Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while flying in the traffic pattern, the airplane's right rudder stopped responding. The pilot aligned the aircraft with the runway for landing, but the touchdown occurred long. During the landing roll, directional control was lost and the airplane departed the runway, continuing through grass and dirt for approximately 500 feet. The front main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on its nose.
Damage Assessment
The engine's firewall and the tube frame located behind the firewall sustained substantial damage.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.