CEN21LA178

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while turning onto the taxiway in variable wind conditions.

The pilot reported that following his uneventful landing in variable and gusty wind conditions and as he was about to make a 120-degree left turn to exit the runway onto the taxiway, the airplane would not straighten despite rudder and brake inputs. The airplane continued the left turn and exited the taxiway into the grass and struck a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane’s brake system and reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the pilot was making the turn off runway 35R with wind from 040o at 7 knots. However, during the previous hour the wind was variable from 140o to 240o creating the potential for windshear.

The pilot reported that the landing, in variable and gusty wind conditions, was uneventful. During the landing roll he aligned the airplane with the left edge of the runway to facilitate a left turn onto taxiway “K.” He slowly started the 120-degree left turn; however, the airplane would not straighten despite right rudder or brake input. The airplane continued to turn left until it exited the taxiway, rolled onto the grass, and impacted a taxiway sign. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s brake system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the AUS METAR indicated wind was from 040 at 7 knots. In addition, it reported that the wind direction varied between 250-140 degrees during the previous hour which is consistent with the potential for windshear