On November 20, 1992, a Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise (registration N473FW) operated by Muhl Air was involved in an aviation accident near Broomfield-Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A failure by FBO personnel to properly connect the nose wheel torque link after towing the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
Aircraft with four occupants escaped uninjured after an aborted takeoff caused by a separated nose wheel torque link, resulting in a runway excursion and damage to engines, wings, fuselage, and landing gear.
Incident
In preparation for a cross-country flight, an aircraft was loaded in a hangar and subsequently towed to the departure point by FBO personnel. The takeoff was scheduled during a snow storm. Following the tow, the nose wheel torque link was not properly connected. During the takeoff run, the torque link separated, leading to a loss of nose wheel steering. The pilot aborted the takeoff, but during the abort, the aircraft departed the side of the runway. The nose wheel was sheared off, causing damage to both engines, the wings, the fuselage, and the landing gear. All four occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was a failure by FBO personnel to properly connect the nose wheel torque link after towing the aircraft.