What happened
On 8 July 1998, a Rockwell Commander 114, registration G-RCED, was preparing for a private flight from Guernsey Airport to Compton Abbas airfield in Wiltshire. The weather conditions at the time were favorable, with good visibility and a surface wind of 290/16 kt.
After being moved from a hangar to a nearby grass parking area, the pilot completed engine start and pre-taxi checks. As the aircraft began taxiing toward Runway 27, the pilot performed a 90-degree right turn to navigate around other parked aircraft. Approximately 10 metres after completing this turn, the nose gear collapsed. This caused the propeller to strike the ground, resulting in the immediate stoppage of the engine. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to the engine, propeller, and nosegear.
The investigation
Following the incident, the pilot confirmed that the landing gear indicators showed all three green lights were illuminated, signifying the gear was down and locked. The gear selector and the emergency extension valve were also found to be in their correct positions. A physical inspection of the grass area where the aircraft had been taxiing showed a dry, even surface with no evidence of ruts or potholes that could have contributed to the failure.
An engineering inspection conducted by an aircraft maintenance agency identified the mechanical cause of the failure. Investigators found that the top, rear drag link pivot spindle on the right-hand side, near the engine frame pick-up, had sheared through. This structural failure allowed the drag link to move out of its over-centre position, which subsequently caused the nose gear leg to retract.