Accident Details
On May 4, 2019, at approximately 1915 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane, registration N6684Z, was substantially damaged during a landing attempt at Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Reno, Nevada. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a personal operation under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot reported that while landing on runway 25, the airplane began to veer left despite his application of right rudder. The aircraft departed the runway, proceeded onto an intersecting runway, struck two runway signs, and executed a tight 360-degree turn to the right before coming to a stop. The pilot stated he was unaware of the reason for the loss of directional control. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 310 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 29 knots.
Post-Accident Examination
A certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, under Federal Aviation Administration supervision, examined the airplane. No anomalies were found with the brake system or tires. The aircraft was jacked for landing gear inspection. The rudder pedals moved freely with no binding. The left rudder achieved full deflection, but when the right rudder pedal was fully depressed, the right rudder was approximately 5 degrees short of full travel. The nosewheel strut assembly showed impact damage, and the nosewheel was not centered, pointing slightly to the right. Investigators could not determine whether the misalignment of the nosewheel and rudder existed before the accident or resulted from impact forces.