Incident
On December 16, 2022, at 1515 eastern standard time, a Cessna R172K, registration N5405V, was substantially damaged when it veered left during the landing roll on runway 09 at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV), Brooksville, Florida. The private pilot, who was operating the airplane under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, sustained a minor injury. The pilot had returned from Orlando International Airport (ORL), Orlando, Florida, after deplaning a friend.
According to the pilot's report, the landing was normal until the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control using rudder and brake applications, but the airplane did not respond. It continued off the left side of the runway, struck a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage.
Investigation
A Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport tower controller initially told local law enforcement that he had cleared the pilot for landing and observed the airplane bounce on the landing strip, veer left, and drive into a retention ditch before nosing over. Later, when interviewed by an FAA aviation safety inspector, the controller recanted his statement.
Weather and Examination
The weather reported at the time of the accident included wind from 020° at 4 knots, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet above ground level, and 10 statute miles visibility.
FAA inspectors examined the wreckage and found that the nose wheel had separated and the nose gear fork assembly was fractured. Six pieces of the fractured assembly were recovered from the airplane and along the wreckage path, and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for examination. The analysis revealed fracture surfaces consistent with overstress fracture. Flight control continuity was confirmed, and the remainder of the airframe examination revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.