Ibiza Airport Nose Gear Retraction Incident Involving Piper PA-34-200 (EC-CEY)

Incident Overview On 18 February 2004 at 16:27 local time, a Piper PA-34-200 with registration EC-CEY, operated by Tadair, was preparing to depart runway 24 at Ibiza Airport in the Balearic Islands. The aircraft was configured for a commercial cargo operation. While taxiing slowly toward the holding point at the runway 24 threshold, the nose landing gear retracted unexpectedly. ## Damage and Occupants The incident caused major damage to the aircraft, including both propellers and the nose gear doors. The two occupants, including the pilot in command, were uninjured and were able to leave the aircraft under their own power without further incident. Emergency services responded immediately and removed the aircraft, which was supported on its main landing gear and a platform placed beneath the nose. ## Investigation Findings Inspection after the aircraft was raised revealed that a component responsible for ensuring the lower nose gear link passed the over-center position was significantly bent in its upper threaded section. The support joining the gear actuator to that component was also found broken. Investigators concluded that these deformations and fractures were not the cause of the incident, as the gear would not have remained extended during taxiing if they had existed beforehand. Instead, they likely occurred when the gear folded under the aircraft's weight. ## Probable Cause The investigation determined that the nose gear began to fold before the lower link had passed the over-center position, despite evidence that the link had previously been in the correct position. The most probable cause was improper adjustment of the component that ensures the lower link passes the over-center position, allowing the link to move out of the correct position and the gear to fold. The exact reason for the improper adjustment could not be determined due to the extent of the post-incident damage.