Aircraft: Bellanca Viking. Injuries: None. Location: Kansas City, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The accident happened during landing.
According to the pilot, the airplane touched down, then suddenly veered off the left side of the runway and into the Precision Approach Path Indicator light system.
The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that a rod end bearing on the nose-wheel steering pushrod failed. As a result, the pilot was unable to operate the nose-wheel steering.
Probable cause: The failure of the nose-wheel steering pushrod, which resulted in a loss of airplane directional control and runway excursion.
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA147
This February 2012 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
The Bellanca Viking is a wood/fabric airplane with a 300 hp engine and a notoriously weak nose gear.
Fortunately the push rod failed during taxi for take off – but the airplane had to stay in PDX and we went home to SEA by commercial air carrier.
Don’t Bellanca’s have wooden members?
That’s what I heard some time ago,
And termites with lumber hungers,
Are the owner’s most worrisome foe.