Narrative:

I was on the inbound leg in a cessna 404. The previous day; I wrote up a maintenance discrepancy regarding slight bending to the nose gear doors. The gear doors were checked; straightened; and the discrepancy was cleared. While I was preflighting the aircraft; the gear doors appeared airworthy. The flight was routine up until final into my filed destination. As I lowered the gear; I received lights indicating my two main gears were locked; but the nose gear light was not illuminated and the gear unsafe light was illuminated. After cycling the gear about four times; I requested a go-around and vectors away from the airport. I next attempted to get the gear down by again cycling the gear and putting a load on the aircraft with steep turns and abrupt pitching up. Consulting operations and other pilots on company frequency; we came up with no other ideas to get the gear down. Following the checklist; I attempted to get the gear down with the emergency nitrogen system. Pulling the handle; I heard a 'clunk' but still the nose gear failed to extend. While I was waiting for further assistance from company; I began to hold over the VOR. Receiving input from company; I continued to attempt to lower the gear with 'G' maneuvers. It was getting dark; and efforts were futile to lower the gear; I declared emergency and requested direct to a nearby airport for landing. On my way; I attempted to lower the gear by putting the hydraulic circuit breaker back in and cycle the gear again; still with no positive results. After a low approach and tower indicating the mains appeared to be down and nose appeared to be up; I departed the area to the southeast to again attempt to get the gear down by maneuvers. Visibility was deteriorating due to smoke and darkness was falling; so I returned to the divert airport. Another low approach and tower informed me that the mains appeared to be down and the nose appeared to be up. On final I stabilized the approach and prepared for landing. Configuration on approach was gear selector down; flaps T/O-app; props 1;900 and landing lights down and on. Coming down to the runway; I reduced power to idle; and in the flare; pulled mixtures back to idle cut-off; turned off mags; master and alternators. The aircraft touched down on the mains and I lowered the nose to the runway. As the nose touched the runway; I continued to hold the yoke full aft; did not use brakes; but kept the aircraft on runway centerline with use of the rudder. As the aircraft came to a stop; I exited the aircraft through the crew door. As I exited; emergency response was there to ensure that I was uninjured; which I was; and the aircraft was not in any additional danger; which it was. Only minor damage was done to the aircraft; bent props due to ground impact and slight damage of the lower nose

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C404 Pilot declared an emergency then landed with the nose gear retracted after extensive attempts to lower it failed. Only minor damage to the nose and bent propellers were noted.

Narrative: I was on the inbound leg in a Cessna 404. The previous day; I wrote up a maintenance discrepancy regarding slight bending to the nose gear doors. The gear doors were checked; straightened; and the discrepancy was cleared. While I was preflighting the aircraft; the gear doors appeared airworthy. The flight was routine up until final into my filed destination. As I lowered the gear; I received lights indicating my two main gears were locked; but the nose gear light was not illuminated and the gear unsafe light was illuminated. After cycling the gear about four times; I requested a go-around and vectors away from the airport. I next attempted to get the gear down by again cycling the gear and putting a load on the aircraft with steep turns and abrupt pitching up. Consulting Operations and other pilots on company frequency; we came up with no other ideas to get the gear down. Following the checklist; I attempted to get the gear down with the emergency nitrogen system. Pulling the handle; I heard a 'clunk' but still the nose gear failed to extend. While I was waiting for further assistance from company; I began to hold over the VOR. Receiving input from company; I continued to attempt to lower the gear with 'G' maneuvers. It was getting dark; and efforts were futile to lower the gear; I declared emergency and requested direct to a nearby airport for landing. On my way; I attempted to lower the gear by putting the hydraulic circuit breaker back in and cycle the gear again; still with no positive results. After a low approach and Tower indicating the mains appeared to be down and nose appeared to be up; I departed the area to the southeast to again attempt to get the gear down by maneuvers. Visibility was deteriorating due to smoke and darkness was falling; so I returned to the divert airport. Another low approach and Tower informed me that the mains appeared to be down and the nose appeared to be up. On final I stabilized the approach and prepared for landing. Configuration on approach was gear selector down; flaps T/O-APP; props 1;900 and landing lights down and on. Coming down to the runway; I reduced power to idle; and in the flare; pulled mixtures back to idle cut-off; turned off mags; master and alternators. The aircraft touched down on the mains and I lowered the nose to the runway. As the nose touched the runway; I continued to hold the yoke full aft; did not use brakes; but kept the aircraft on runway centerline with use of the rudder. As the aircraft came to a stop; I exited the aircraft through the crew door. As I exited; emergency response was there to ensure that I was uninjured; which I was; and the aircraft was not in any additional danger; which it was. Only minor damage was done to the aircraft; bent props due to ground impact and slight damage of the lower nose

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.