Wheels up landing involving a Beech Aircraft Corp E55, VH-USP, Bankstown, NSW on 15 July 1994

The pilot reported hearing a snapping sound during landing gear retraction and subsequently confirmed that the nose gear had not fully retracted. Flight Service were advised of the problem and the aircraft diverted to Bankstown. An uncertainty phase was declared and emergency procedures implemented. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing, during which the nose gear collapsed. Subsequent investigation determined that the nose gear actuating rod end had failed from fatigue cracking. The fatigue had initiated from a pre-existing crack. It is likely that the original crack had originated from a previous nose gear collapse in October 1993 when the aircraft had collided with a kangaroo.