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SEA07CA186

2007-06-22 · Bear Lake, Idaho, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 1U7

N3570B has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (PIPER PA-34-200T), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The separation of the bolt that holds the nosewheel steering torque arm to the nose wheel strut during the takeoff roll, resulting in no nosewheel steering being available during the landing roll at the pilot's destination. Factors include the pilot's failure to notice during his preflight that the bolt was no longer properly secured in place.

Factual narrative

Unbeknownst to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the bolt that secured the nosewheel steering torque arm to the nosewheel strut separated from the aircraft. When the pilot landed at his planned destination, he had no nosewheel steering, and during his attempt to maintain directional control, the aircraft skidded sideways on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The bolt was later found laying on the runway from which he departed. The castellated nut and cotter pin that normally secure the bolt in place where not located. During his preflight, the pilot had failed to notice that the bolt was no longer properly secured in place. Unbeknownst to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the bolt that secured the nosewheel steering torque arm to the nosewheel strut separated from the aircraft. When the pilot landed at his planned destination, he had no nosewheel steering, and during his attempt to maintain directional control, the aircraft skidded sideways on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The bolt was later found laying on the runway from which he departed. The castellated nut and cotter pin that normally secure the bolt in place where not located. During his preflight, the pilot had failed to notice that the bolt was no longer properly secured in place. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2007_SEA07CA186.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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