What is the result of a malfunctioning steering damper during landing?

The result of a malfunctioning steering damper during landing is indeed increased vibration. The steering damper plays a crucial role in stabilizing the aircraft's nose wheel during taxiing, takeoff, and landing. It helps reduce the oscillations that can occur when the nose wheel encounters uneven surfaces or during abrupt steering inputs.

When the damper is functioning properly, it absorbs and dissipates these vibrations, allowing for smoother control and maneuvering. However, if the damper is malfunctioning, it can fail to adequately control these movements, leading to vibrations being transmitted throughout the aircraft. This can make the aircraft more difficult to handle, especially during critical phases such as landing when precise control is necessary.

Understanding the function of the steering damper highlights the potential risk of increased vibration and its negative impact on aircraft handling and cockpit safety. While improved control, harder turns, and reduction in speed are not typically direct consequences of a damper malfunction, they relate to different aspects of aircraft dynamics and control that aren't as directly affected by the steering damper's function as the issue of increased vibration is.