Narrative:

Was conducting a touch and go as a student pilot solo with about 50 prior landings and no previous issues. Landing was normal and slightly left of runway centerline. After turning carb heat off and raising flaps as normal; went full throttle for takeoff. I then applied slight right rudder to get back on centerline.aircraft pulled sharply to the left unexpectedly; and wasn't able to be corrected with right rudder applied. Aircraft went off runway onto grass area; traveling through and impacting distance marker sign and runway light. During this time (approximately 5-10 seconds); power was removed. Aircraft traveled onto taxiway and stopped; heading east. Observed damage to lower cowling and prop; believed from impact to sign. Aircraft was towed back to hangar.rudder pedals were then engaged to observe steering mechanism and steering mechanism was observed not to be functioning.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 pilot lost directional control on landing roll and departed the runway. Aircraft was later found to have inoperative nose wheel steering.

Narrative: Was conducting a touch and go as a student pilot solo with about 50 prior landings and no previous issues. Landing was normal and slightly left of runway centerline. After turning carb heat off and raising flaps as normal; went full throttle for takeoff. I then applied slight right rudder to get back on centerline.Aircraft pulled sharply to the left unexpectedly; and wasn't able to be corrected with right rudder applied. Aircraft went off runway onto grass area; traveling through and impacting distance marker sign and runway light. During this time (approximately 5-10 seconds); power was removed. Aircraft traveled onto taxiway and stopped; heading east. Observed damage to lower cowling and prop; believed from impact to sign. Aircraft was towed back to hangar.Rudder pedals were then engaged to observe steering mechanism and steering mechanism was observed not to be functioning.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.