HAILEY, ID, USA
N3115U
FAIRCHILD SA-227AC
ON LDG THE EXPERIENCED CAPTN ENCOUNTERED A RIGHT DRIFT ON THE DRY RWY WITH NEGLIGIBLE WINDS. RUDDER/PWR/NOSEWHEEL STEERING INPUTS WERE INSUFFICIENT TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RIGHT DRIFT TRANSLATED INTO A STRONG RIGHT SWERVE WITH CONTINUED APPLICATION OF FULL LEFT NOSEWHEEL STEERING AND SIMULTANEOUS BRAKING. ACFT DEPARTED RIGHT SIDE OF RWY AND NOSEWHEEL OBSERVED TRACKING STRAIGHT INTO SNOW & NO NOSEWHEEL SKID MARKS OBSERVED. TESTING REVEALED REDUCED NOSEWHEEL STEERING EFFECTIVENESS WITH DECREASING NOSE STRUT COMPRESSION DUE TO ENGAGEMENT OF CENTERING CAM. CAPTN REPORTED 'NOSE HIGH' TAXI ATTITUDE AND 'PITCH SENSITIVE' FLT. CAPTN/OTHER PLTS REPORTED DIFFICULTY ACHIEVING EQUAL BRAKING DURING CONDITIONS OF LARGE RUDDER PEDAL DISPLACEMENT. THIS CONDITION IS NOT ADDRESSED IN PLT/OPS MANUALS. CHECK OF BRAKE/NOSEWHEEL STEERING SYSTEMS REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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