DURING MULTI ENG FLT INSTRUCTOR FLT TEST; THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING TKOF ROLL AND THE EXAMINER DESIGNEE TOOK OFF AND THE RPTING APPLICANT RETURNED THE ACFT TO LAND AFTER SUCCESSFULLY EXTENDING THE LNDG GEAR. HOWEVER; AN FAA INSPECTOR INVESTIGATING THIS INCIDENT FOUND THAT THE XPONDER INSPECTION REQUIREMENT PERIOD HAD BEEN EXCEEDED.

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DURING MY MEI CHK RIDE; THE ACFT (A BE76 BEECH DUCHESS) HAD A NOSE GEAR FAILURE. I WAS PNF; THE EXAMINER WAS PF. WE HAD PERFORMED A THOROUGH PREFLT AND ENG RUN-UP NOTICING THE GEAR IN TRANSIT BULB WAS ILLUMINATED BUT BOTH THE EXAMINER AND I CONFIRMED A 3 GREEN INDICATION AND A DOWN AND LOCKED GEAR HANDLE. WE PERFORMED AN ENG FAILURE BEFORE ROTATION WHERE I FAILED THE ENG AND THE EXAMINER RECOVERED. WE TAXIED BACK TO RWY 27L FOR A TKOF WHERE I WAS TO FAIL AN ENG AFTER ROTATION. DURING THE ROTATION THE NOSE 'DROPPED.' THE EXAMINER AND I RECOVERED AND FLEW THE ACFT TO TFC PATTERN ALT. I WAS GIVEN CTL WHERE I THEN CYCLED THE GEAR; RECEIVED A 3 GREEN DOWN AND LOCK AND A VISUAL CONFIRMATION FROM TWR. I THEN LANDED SAFELY AND SHUT DOWN. I MET WITH AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED MY LOGBOOK AND CERTIFICATES AND MEDICAL AND RETURNED THEM. HE ALSO CONFISCATED THE ACFT LOGBOOKS. SEVERAL DAYS LATER (JUL/XA/00) I WAS INFORMED I WOULD RECEIVE A VIOLATION BECAUSE THE XPONDER WAS OUT OF ITS INSPECTION PERIOD; NOT BECAUSE GEAR FAILED.