Accident Overview
On February 2, 2012, at approximately 1310 central standard time, a Bellanca model 17-30 airplane, registration N6564V, veered off the left side of the runway while landing at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) in Kansas City, Missouri. During the runway excursion, the airplane struck the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light system, resulting in damage to both wings. The private pilot and a flight instructor were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
Flight Details
The aircraft was registered to and operated by the private pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot was receiving flight instruction at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated at about 1145.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that after a previous takeoff, the red in-transit landing gear indicator light remained illuminated. He cycled the landing gear and the light extinguished. When he lowered the gear for landing at MKC, only two of the three green gear-down indicator lights illuminated. The landing approach was aborted, and the pilot cycled the landing gear three times. After that, all three green gear-down indicator lights illuminated. The pilot reported that the subsequent landing was normal, but as soon as the nose wheel touched down, the airplane veered sharply to the left and off the runway.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed a fractured spherical rod end for the nosewheel steering pushrod. The rod end was fractured in the threaded portion of the shank. The threaded portion of the rod end, along with the jam nut, remained attached to the steering pushrod.