PLT OF SMT FREIGHTER LNDG ON SNOWY RWY WITH GUSTING XWINDS DRIFTED OFF RWY; REGAINED CTL AND REGAINED RWY WITHOUT BREAKING LIGHTS OR DAMAGING ACFT.; An A330 Captain reported loss of nose wheel steering during taxi.

Narrative

MY CABIN HEATER FAILED 1.5 HRS BEFORE ERI AND CABIN TEMP WAS -20 DEGS C DURING THAT TIME AND I HAD TROUBLE FEELING MY FT AND HANDS. ON FINAL AT ERIE BRAKING ACTION WAS RPTED AS POOR AND WINDS GUSTING TO 30 KTS. THE ACFT WAS EXPERIENCING MODERATE TURB FROM 3000 FT TO TOUCHDOWN. ON LNDG ACFT WAS GOING STRAIGHT DOWN RWY AND ALL WHEELS WERE ON THE RWY (RWY CONDITIONS: 1/2 INCH OF FRESH SNOW AND ICE BUT CENTER 30 FT WAS SANDED). THE ACFT WAS STRUCK BY A GUST OF WIND AND CAUSED TO WX VANE INTO WIND AND THE ACFT STARTED TO SKID SIDEWAYS OFF THE RWY. I TRIED TO USE DIFFERENTIAL PWR TO STRAIGHTEN; BUT THE ACFT WAS HDG FOR THE RWY LIGHTS. I DIDN'T WANT THE GEAR TO GET SIDE LOAD IF IT WENT OFF THE RWY SO I STRAIGHTENED OUT THE ACFT NOSE IN THE DIRECTION IT WAS SKIDDING. I REGAINED CTL AND WENT OFF THE RWY INTO ABOUT 6 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GRASS SIDE OF THE RWY AND MISSED THE RWY LIGHTS AND WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE RWY WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO ACFT OR THE RWY LIGHTS. I WAS LATER TOLD BY THE TWR AND GND PERSONNEL I DID A GREAT JOB IN REGAINING CTL AND AVOIDING ANY DAMAGE.; After landing we were taxiing and the nose gear steering stopped working and essentially went to free castoring with zero effect of differential rudder pedals or either steering tiller. We were able to steer through differential braking to where we could safely stop the aircraft and call for assistance.