What was found
DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION EVENT, THE NOSE GEAR TRUNNION WAS FOUND TO BE BADLY CRACKED. THE CRACK BEGAN BETWEEN THE DRAG LINK ATTACH AND THE CENTERING SPRING ATTACH EARS AND EXTENDED FORWARD TO THE EDGE OF PART. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG THIS DEFECT EXISTED, BUT IT'S BELIEVED THE CRACK MUST HAVE NOT TAKEN LONG TO DEVELOP, AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RATHER DIFFICULT TO MISS ON AN INSPECTION OR EVEN A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. HAD THE CRACK NOT BEEN DISCOVERED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CENTERING SPRING ATTACH EAR TO BREAK AWAY, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO DIFFICULTY TAXIING IF EXTENDED OR COULD CAUSE THE NOSE GEAR TO JAMB WITHIN THE WHEEL WELL IF RETRACTED.