AN MO20 PLT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CTL DURING LNDG AND AFTER THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY; THE PLT PERFORMED A GAR. THROUGH COORD WITH THE TWR; THE RPTR DETERMINED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL WAS NOT CTRED. THE RPTR LANDED A SECOND TIME USING A SOFT FIELD LNDG TECHNIQUE. MAINT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING BOLT WAS PARTIALLY OUT OF PLACE.

Date: 1996-03 · Aircraft: M-20 B/C Ranger

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|inflight-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control|other-runway-or-taxiway-excursion

Synopsis

AN MO20 PLT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CTL DURING LNDG AND AFTER THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY; THE PLT PERFORMED A GAR. THROUGH COORD WITH THE TWR; THE RPTR DETERMINED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL WAS NOT CTRED. THE RPTR LANDED A SECOND TIME USING A SOFT FIELD LNDG TECHNIQUE. MAINT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING BOLT WAS PARTIALLY OUT OF PLACE.

Narrative

ON LNDG AT GEU NOSEWHEEL WAS CANTED L AND NOT ATTACHED; MAKING IT VEER OFF RWY. I PWRED UP AND WENT AROUND. TWR CONFIRMED AFTER FLY-BY THAT WHEEL WAS ANGLED OFF. AFTER LNDG UNEVENTFULLY THE SECOND TIME; A MECH FOUND NOSEWHEEL STEERING BOLT PARTIALLY OUT OF PLACE. NO CTL OF NOSEWHEEL. THIS ACFT HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON 2 LNDGS PRIOR AND WAS TOWED FOR THIS WORK. I BELIEVE THIS DISLODGED THE BOLT OR AGGRAVATED THE BOLT OUT OF POS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE ACFT IS AN MO20 (C MODEL). THE OWNER FEELS CERTAIN THAT MAINT OVEREXTENDED THE TURNING LIMITATIONS OF THE NOSEWHEEL. SINCE THE BOLT IS WELL UP UNDERNEATH THE COWLING; THE PLT STATES THAT HE COULD NOT HAVE DETECTED THIS SIT ON PREFLT. HIS FIRST INDICATION OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG WAS DURING LNDG. WHEN THE ACFT SHOT OFF TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE RWY; THE RPTR ROTATED THE NOSE WHILE ADDING PWR; AND WENT AROUND. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO LAND; THE NOSEWHEEL WAS STILL NOT CTRED; BUT THE RPTR HELD THE NOSE OFF UNTIL THE ACFT WAS LITERALLY STOPPED.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.