Can a spellcasting Fighter use the Action Surge ability to cast two spells (not cantrips) in one turn?
Answers to this question assume they can not, however, nothing in the rules explicitly restricts that. The only restriction described is the "bonus action" paragraph (PHB, page 202):
Bonus Action
A spell cast with a bonus action is especially swift. You must use a bonus action on your turn to cast the spell, provided that you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn. You can’t cast another spell during the same turn, except for a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action.
But it is related to the bonus action, isn't it?
A follow-up question – what if the Fighter casts a Bonus Action spell with a cantrip, then takes the Action Surge, and then casts any "normal" (not a cantrip) spell? Will it contradict the "you can’t cast another spell during the same turn" part?
Best Answer
It would appear that Crawford's weighs in on the cantrip rule is only with relation to spells that are cast with the bonus action, this also made it into the Sage Advice Compendium.
Crawford confirms here.
PHB p202 Under Casting Times and Bonus Action
Since Action Surge gives you a whole other action and not a another turn you can certainly cast another spell so long as you did not use a Bonus action spell.
The Sage Advice Compendium also provides clarification: