What happened
On July 31, 2017, at 11:58 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, registration N2146R, was landing on runway 35R at Centennial Airport (APA) in Denver, Colorado, when it veered off the runway. The flight, operated by Aspen Flying Club under Part 91 regulations, had departed from Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB) earlier that day.
The pilot reported that the aircraft had experienced a similar rightward veer during a previous landing at PUB earlier in the day. During the landing at APA, the aircraft veered sharply to the right as the nose landing gear touched down. While the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft back onto the runway, the plane struck a runway sign. The impact separated the right main landing gear assembly from the aircraft, causing the right wing to contact the ground. The aircraft then veered further right and came to a stop in the grass adjacent to the runway.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the child passenger. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
An FAA airworthiness inspector performed a post-accident examination of the aircraft's steering linkages, struts, torque tubes, tires, brakes, and brakes. The inspection found no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have caused a loss of directional control. Maintenance records showed the right brake master cylinder had been replaced on February 28, 2017.