Date: 201602
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: Haze / Smoke
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Operator: Corporate
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Nose Gear
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Corporate
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: It was a beautiful day; and I was ready to fly the Cessna 206 for its first flight since maintenance. After taxiing to the runway; my co-pilot and I performed our run-up procedure near the hold-short line. Everything checked out and we were ready for take-off. While awaiting take-off clearance; I heard a sound resembling a piece of metal or a coin dropping on concrete. We looked to find the source of the sound; but could not determine what might have caused it. Upon takeoff; I noticed the need for slight left rudder instead of right rudder to keep the ball centered. In climb; some left rudder was required. Once the transition to cruise flight (6000 feet) was made; I noticed a strong right yaw/roll tendency; requiring full left rudder; full left rudder trim and slight left aileron to maintain straight and level flight.My co-pilot and I decided to turn around for a precautionary landing. Given the strong flight control issues; we also considered other airports on the route of flight in case the situation would become more severe. We preferred landing at a larger airport with long; wide runways. Other airports in the area had shorter; narrower runways; closer to neighborhoods and terrain. In preparation for landing; we worked as a team and discussed our plan of action. We briefed that if we were to lose control of the aircraft during landing; the co-pilot would cut-off the mixture. The touchdown was very soft and smooth on the main wheels; but as soon as the nose wheel hit the ground; the aircraft veered off to the right. The mixture was cut-off and the fuel selector turned off. We regained positive control of aircraft; and we came to a complete stop on the runway centerline. The emergency services were on standby and rushed towards us. After talking to a mechanic; it was determined that the nose wheel strut had gone flat. The strut collapsing on itself after the run-up was most likely the source of the sound we heard.In a C206 and C182; a flat nose wheel strut causes the self-centering mechanism of the nose wheel to be ineffective; leaving the nose wheel to weather vane in the slipstream. The nose wheel basically became a rudder in the front; causing the right turning/yawing tendency.




Synopsis: C206 Captain reported returning to departure airport after experiencing control difficulties after takeoff. After landing; nose strut was found to be flat; allowing the nosewheel to weather vane; affecting directional control.