Narrative:

I was conducting a check ride in VMC. The pilot executed ILS (localizer only) runway 6 at ZZZ with a circle to runway 32. Winds were reported out of 300 degrees with gusts up to 20 KTS. The pilot flew the airplane to a stable 1 mi final with a red-over-white indication on the VASI. The pilot maintained 94 KTS (vref +10) the entire final approach until we neared the runway threshold. We touched down just beyond the 1000 ft markers at about 80 KTS (vref -4). The pilot applied light braking initially because of uncertainty about what was causing the plane to veer left. As we slowed; the pilot asked; 'hey; what is that?' in response to an unusual rumbling noise. The airplane continued toward the side of the runway; and I verbally instructed the pilot to take pressure off the left brake. The pilot indicated pressure was not on the brakes and she was unable to turn the airplane. At this point; I assumed the controls and applied full right rudder. By the time I went to reach for right brake and split the power; the aircraft had left the runway. The aircraft came to rest in a ditch. When the airplane came to a stop; I secured the aircraft and did a walkaround. Upon further reflection; another pilot had mentioned that he'd experienced a strong pull to the left after touchdown. The pull to the left was so severe that ATC asked if they needed any help. The only write-up was for a flat-spotted left main tire. I saw this discrepancy was 'closed' before the flight; but it did not describe the pulling sensation and; therefore; did not jog my memory.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SHORTS 330 L BRAKE WAS DRAGGING AFTER LNDG CAUSING THE ACFT TO VEER L OFF OF THE RWY.

Narrative: I WAS CONDUCTING A CHK RIDE IN VMC. THE PLT EXECUTED ILS (LOC ONLY) RWY 6 AT ZZZ WITH A CIRCLE TO RWY 32. WINDS WERE RPTED OUT OF 300 DEGS WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KTS. THE PLT FLEW THE AIRPLANE TO A STABLE 1 MI FINAL WITH A RED-OVER-WHITE INDICATION ON THE VASI. THE PLT MAINTAINED 94 KTS (VREF +10) THE ENTIRE FINAL APCH UNTIL WE NEARED THE RWY THRESHOLD. WE TOUCHED DOWN JUST BEYOND THE 1000 FT MARKERS AT ABOUT 80 KTS (VREF -4). THE PLT APPLIED LIGHT BRAKING INITIALLY BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PLANE TO VEER L. AS WE SLOWED; THE PLT ASKED; 'HEY; WHAT IS THAT?' IN RESPONSE TO AN UNUSUAL RUMBLING NOISE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE RWY; AND I VERBALLY INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE L BRAKE. THE PLT INDICATED PRESSURE WAS NOT ON THE BRAKES AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE AIRPLANE. AT THIS POINT; I ASSUMED THE CTLS AND APPLIED FULL R RUDDER. BY THE TIME I WENT TO REACH FOR R BRAKE AND SPLIT THE PWR; THE ACFT HAD LEFT THE RWY. THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP; I SECURED THE ACFT AND DID A WALKAROUND. UPON FURTHER REFLECTION; ANOTHER PLT HAD MENTIONED THAT HE'D EXPERIENCED A STRONG PULL TO THE L AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE PULL TO THE L WAS SO SEVERE THAT ATC ASKED IF THEY NEEDED ANY HELP. THE ONLY WRITE-UP WAS FOR A FLAT-SPOTTED L MAIN TIRE. I SAW THIS DISCREPANCY WAS 'CLOSED' BEFORE THE FLT; BUT IT DID NOT DESCRIBE THE PULLING SENSATION AND; THEREFORE; DID NOT JOG MY MEMORY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.