What happened
On February 18, 2004, at approximately 16:27 local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registration EC-CEY, was taxiing toward the runway 24 holding point at Ibiza Airport for a commercial cargo flight. During the taxi process, as the aircraft was slowing down to stop, the nose landing gear unexpectedly retracted. The impact of the nose gear collapsing caused significant damage to both propellers and the nose gear doors. The two occupants of the aircraft were uninjured and were able to evacuate the plane without further incident.
The investigation
Following the event, emergency services arrived at the scene and stabilized the aircraft using a platform under the nose while it rested on its main landing gear. Upon inspection of the nose gear assembly, investigators found that the component responsible for ensuring the lower linkage passed the over-center position was considerably bent at its upper threaded section. Additionally, the support where the gear actuator and the aforementioned component meet was found to be broken.
Testing revealed that once the nose gear doors were released, the gear could be extended correctly using the cockpit controls. The crew reported no prior unusual vibrations, impacts, or incidents during the preceding flight or the taxiing phase of the current flight.
Findings
Investigators concluded that the observed structural deformations and breaks were not the primary cause of the incident, as such damage would have prevented the gear from remaining extended during taxi. Instead, the damage likely occurred as the gear collapsed under the weight of the aircraft.
The primary cause was an improperly adjusted component designed to ensure the lower linkage passed the over-center position. This misalignment likely allowed the linkage to shift out of its secure position. Consequently, the normal mechanical stresses of taxiing—specifically the forces generated during braking—allowed the linkage to move, triggering the retraction of the nose gear.