PA-46 Malibu Meridian
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 6500; Flight Crew Type 200
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
We had been holding for weather just southwest of the field. We were descended and cleared for the visual approach. We entered a dog legged right base and turned final. Everything at this point was normal. There was a slight (less than 10 knot) crosswind from the right. Tower cleared us to land and I was the non flying pilot in the right seat. We crossed the numbers on centerline at 90 knots +/- 2 knots. The main wheels touched and all was fine. However once the nose gear touched down; the plane veered hard left immediately. I would say that it was on a 45 degree path to leave the runway. I immediately jumped on the controls with the flying pilot pressing hard right rudder. The plane swerved hard to the right at this point but it felt as if it wanted to turn left again. I told the flying pilot the aircraft was mine and continued to apply full right rudder authority. I also used full reversing on the engine. The rudder pedals shimmied until we slowed to below taxi speed. Once we were at taxi speed; the plane seemed to be operating normally. I taxied us to the ramp; parked and visually inspected the aircraft. I found no problems with the tires; or problems with any of the linkages and the aircraft seems to be in good working order. Brakes seemed to work fine as well. There was no damage to the aircraft; and to the best of my knowledge we never departed the runway although we did come very close. After reading some reports and doing some research; several others have reported the same experience. I truly believe the nose wheel was not straight when landing. There was no standing water on the runway but the runway was wet and I believe this contributed to the incident. Have called Maintenance to see if there is a solution on their end.
PA46 pilot in the right seat reports a hard swerve to the left as the flying pilot in the left seat lowers the nose gear to the runway after main gear touchdown. The reporter gets on the controls and is able to prevent the aircraft from departing the runway and slow to taxi speed. The aircraft is taxied to parking without difficulty and no defects can be found on post flight inspection.