Accident Sequence
The pilot of a tri-cycle landing gear-equipped airplane reported that after a normal landing, the airplane began to veer left of the centerline during the landing roll. The pilot applied right rudder to correct the veer and heard a "thump" as if something affixed to the airplane was being dragged. Subsequently, the rudder steering became ineffective. The pilot applied constant hard right rudder input coupled with dynamic braking, which turned the airplane to the right. The nose landing gear then collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop.
Investigation Findings
Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed that the right steering rod end had failed. Photographs also showed that the bolts of the nose gear firewall mount were pulled from the firewall. The nose gear assembly had rotated more than 90° to the left and was found underneath the fuselage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall.
In response to a request from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-charge, the operator inspected two additional airplanes in their inventory. The operator found that the steering rod ends of the inspected airplanes were bent and showed signs of cracking between the threads. The steering bungees were visually inspected; however, they could not be thoroughly inspected without damaging the component.