Runway excursion involving a Cessna 182M, VH-EHF, Silver Plains (ALA), Queensland, on 3 June 1996

The pilot reported that when he landed, the nosewheel was cocked sideways, and collapsed when it contacted the runway. The pilot said the nosewheel steering link was probably broken before the aircraft departed Innisfail. He believes the nosewheel steering may have been inadvertently forced past the steering limit, while being towed.

The failed nosewheel fork was examined by a CASA airworthiness inspector, and in his opinion the nosewheel strut failure was caused by overload after the tyre and wheel failed. He said the possible causes of the tyre and wheel failure could be a heavy landing in crosswind, or the nosewheel impacting with something on the runway.

The strut failed rearwards and substantially damaged the fuselage structure back as far as the wing strut attachments. The cause of the tyre and wheel failure could not be positively determined.