On Friday 12 January and Thursday 18 January 1996, Metroliners ZK-POB and ZK-SDA respectively were involved in runway excursions after the pilot flying engaged the nosewheel steering during their landing runs. No injuries were sustained in either event and the damage to the aircraft was minor.
The causal factors identified were a malfunction of the nosewheel steering system and the pilots' perseverance with the use of an aircraft system which was unserviceable.
The safety issues identified in these incidents were the absence of a clear instruction to pilots on the control of the aircraft during its landing roll and the potential for the nosewheel steering system amplifier to fail before its potential to do so was detected. A safety recommendation was made in relation to each of these items.
