N432WC

On August 20, 2001, at 1730 central daylight time, a Cessna 305, N432WC, sustained substantial damage during landing when it veered off the runway and the landing gear collapsed. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Kalamazoo, Michigan, at 1430 eastern standard time, and was making a full stop landing on runway 22 (5,500 feet by 100 feet) at the Rolla National Airport (VIH), Vichy, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported the airplane touched down on runway 22. He reported the, "Aircraft tracked straight down the runway for a few seconds then began to track to the left. I applied right rudder which had no effect. I then added right brake but the left turn continued. Nothing seemed to have any effect on turning of the aircraft." He reported that when the airplane hit the sod, the right gear failed. The airplane came to a rest about 11 feet from the edge of the runway on a heading of 060 degrees.

A Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector examined the airplane. The right hand rudder cable was found broken. The airplane exhibited no other flight control anomalies. A metallurgical examination of the rudder control cable revealed it failed in overload.

At 1753, the observed weather at VIH was: winds 160 degrees at 10 knots, sky clear, visibility 10 miles, temperature 84 degrees, dew point 82 degrees, altimeter 30.01.