Bolt fell out onto my feet. Where does it go?

Whatever umpa lumpa you gave it hopefully is fixed with the Loctite/thread sealant.

Thank you for sharing your solution!

 

that can be remedied easily enough w/ either a thread file or a die nut. Either can remedy threads that are (no more than moderately) dinged up. What's surprising is that there's no evidence of thread locking compound on the application. That being the case, it may be that the welded-on nut is a 'stover' type, which are not recommended for re-use.
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As the retaining bolt worked its way out, the (rotating) steering shaft moved from no contact with the smaller diameter, unthreaded portion of the bolt, more and more into contact with the larger diameter, inner ~3/4 " of the threaded portion, rolling them over, until the bolt worked its way completely out. Clearly no blue thread locker compound on that bolt, but should have been.