ERA19TA011

The private pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear slightly left of centerline. As soon as he lowered the nose landing gear (NLG), he felt the airplane lurch left and then right. The pilot attempted to arrest the movement with rudder inputs, followed by differential braking, but the airplane continued to veer right uncontrollably. He then intentionally increased braking until both wheels started skidding. The airplane skidded sideways and then exited the right side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign before coming to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Continuity of the NLG steering system was confirmed. Given the evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain directional control after landing, which resulted in the runway excursion.

On October 13, 2018, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Beech F33A, N9469Q, was substantially damaged during landing at Swinton Smith Field (RVJ), Reidsville, Georgia. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was operated by the pilot and conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Wright Army Airfield (LHW), Hinesville, Georgia, about 1215. The pilot reported that he flew the airport traffic pattern for runway 29, a 5,000-ft-long, 75-ft-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane touched down at 65 knots on the main landing gear about 750 ft from the approach end of the runway and slightly left of centerline. As soon as he lowered the nosegear, he felt the airplane lurch uncharacteristically left and then right. The pilot attempted to arrest the movement first with rudder inputs, then by differential braking. The airplane did not respond and started to veer uncontrollably to the right. He then intentionally increased braking until both wheels started skidding. At this point the airplane was skidding sideways and traveled off the right side of the runway, colliding with a taxiway sign before coming to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing spar was damaged. The inspector added that a continuity check of the nose landing gear system to include all linkage from the rudder pedals to the rudder flight control was performed and no discrepancies were noted. Further examination of the nosewheel well area revealed no visible indications of premature component failure. Examination of the runway revealed main landing gear tire marks about 750 ft from the approach end of the runway. Shortly after the main landing gear tire marks, a nosewheel tire mark was visible and continued straight without any wobbling deviations. The inspector also noted main landing gear tire mark skids further down the runway, consistent with the pilot's report of heavy braking before departing the side of the runway. The recorded wind at an airport located about 12 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 290° at 4 knots.