Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 1; Flight Crew Total 635; Flight Crew Type 495
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
A very smooth landing was executed aligned with; and onto the centerline; of Runway 34L under conditions of a reported 8 KT wind essentially directed along the runway heading. When the nose wheel contacted the pavement the aircraft turned left immediately. Corrective action was taken by right rudder input and braking to no avail. The sharp left turn of the aircraft lifted the left main landing gear wheel off the pavement and the right wing tip contacted the pavement causing an arc of paint transfer onto the pavement for a distance of some 30 FT. Right wing tip contact resulted in a scrape mark on the underside of the right wing tip that is approximately 4 inches in length and is repairable. The right wing tip strobe globe was broken as well. The oleo strut was collapsed and loss of strut fluid was obvious. Initial investigation by mechanics identified a lack of steering control of the nose wheel by rudder pedal input. This occurrence (unplanned runway departure) was the result of mechanical failure of a direct rudder pedal steering component; yet to be specifically pinpointed; allowing the free pivoting (left and/or right) of the nose gear wheel assembly.
The rudder pedal control of a C177RG nose wheel steering failed during landing which resulted in a wingtip contacting the runway and subsequently the aircraft exited the runway.