An FAA inspector from Spokane, Washington, submitted this defect report, indicating the cause of the 172’s accident. The attached drawing shows the failure point on the nose gear steering tube’s rod-end (P/N 0543022-1).

“The aircraft turned left and impacted an embankment. A small amount of rust was (noticed) on the threaded area (of the rod end).” (The attached drawing has been vertically compressed—fairly obvious!)

Part Total Time: (unknown).