Accident Overview
On April 19, 2014, at approximately 1500 eastern daylight time, a Rockwell International 114, registration N4890W, sustained substantial damage when it departed the left side of Runway 06 while landing at Kirsch Municipal Airport (IRS) in Sturgis, Michigan. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not on a flight plan. The aircraft had departed from Fulton County Airport (RCR) in Rochester, Indiana, around 1430.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that during the approach for landing, he applied full left rudder and right aileron to compensate for a right crosswind. He stated that winds were steady below 400 feet above ground level from 100 degrees at 8 knots. When the nose landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane immediately veered to the left. The pilot then applied full right rudder and right brake, but these actions had no effect. The airplane continued off the runway, and the nose gear struck a hole, causing the right wing to impact the terrain, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot and one passenger were not injured.
Examination Findings
An examination of the nose landing gear steering system revealed that one of the pulleys on the right side of the nose landing gear was cracked and would not turn. Further inspection indicated that it was possible for the steering cable to bind in the crack of the pulley, which could prevent the nose gear from moving. The source did not provide a probable cause for the accident.