Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The private pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll for the local personal flight, the nosewheel seemed to turn slightly to the left. Rudder input maintained a straight path on the runway centerline, but the nosewheel side-skidded for a few seconds before the airplane lifted off. When the airplane returned for landing, the pilot stated that touchdown was smooth and uneventful. During the landing roll, the nosewheel turned slightly left, and he attempted to correct with full right rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the left, exited the runway, and impacted a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light. The pilot stated that he felt that the right rudder bungee did not have enough pull to stop the nosewheel from continuing to turn more sharply to the left. However, a postaccident examination of the airplane and nosewheel steering mechanism did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 22, 2015, about 1115 mountain standard time, a Beech B23, N7628R, veered off runway 21 during the landing rollout at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Flagstaff, Arizona. The private pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local area personal flight. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed FLG about 1050. According to the pilot, just prior to rotation for takeoff, the nose wheel seemed to turn left slightly, rudder input maintained a straight path on the runway centerline, but the nose wheel side skidded for a few seconds before he rotated. They flew for about an hour and then returned to the airport for a full stop landing. The pilot stated that touchdown was smooth and uneventful. During the landing rollout, the nose wheel turned slightly left, and he corrected for the condition with full right rudder. He felt that the right rudder bungee did not have enough pull to stop the nose wheel from continuing to turn more sharply to the left. The pilot applied right brake, but was not able to correct the turn to the left. The airplane tipped up on its nose wheel and right main landing gear, which caused the nose wheel to turn more to the left. The pilot applied full power and elevator to reduce the weight off the nose wheel in an attempt to turn it to the right. The right wing struck a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) box, and the pivot tube on the left wing caught the top of another PAPI box. After coming to a stop, the pilot and passenger exited the airplane. Flagstaff airport reported wind from 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots. The airplane was inspected by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, with no mechanical anomalies identified.