What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot stated that during climb out rudder felt very stiff and the aircraft did not respond to the very limited left rudder input. Pilot set the aircraft down in a grass field at end or runway when the nose wheel failed resulting in the aircraft flipping over on to it's back. Pilot stated that passenger was very scared and that his body got very stiff, found evidence that passenger may have had left rudder pedal jammed with his foot restricting left rudder movement.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT STATED THAT DURING CLIMB OUT RUDDER FELT VERY STIFF AND THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE VERY LIMITED LEFT RUDDER INPUT. PILOT SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN IN A GRASS FIELD AT END OR RUNWAY WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL FAILED RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPING OVER ON TO IT'S BACK. PILOT STATED THAT PASSENGER WAS VERY SCARED AND THAT HIS BODY GOT VERY STIFF, FOUND EVIDENCE THAT PASSENGER MAY HAVE HAD LEFT RUDDER PEDAL JAMMED WITH HIS FOOT RESTRICTING LEFT RUDDER MOVEMENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.