According to one embodiment of the invention, a disk drive apparatus
includes a case, a disk-shaped recording medium, a drive motor, a head, a
head actuator, and a latch mechanism configured to latch the head
actuator and hold the head actuator at a retracted position when the head
actuator receives an external force. A latch member of the latch
mechanism is arranged to be movable between a latch position and a
release position and has an abutment portion, which abuts the head
actuator when the head actuator moves from the information processing
position to the retracted position, and a latch claw which latches the
head actuator. The abutment portion has a first abutment portion, which
abuts the head actuator first, and a second abutment portion, which abuts
the head actuator following the first abutment portion, and the first
abutment portion being formed less rigid than the second abutment
portion.