Glasair pilot reports nose landing gear fails to extend. Alternate methods of gear extension are att...

Attributes
ACN	814015
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	814015
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On a VFR flight the landing gear extension system failed to deploy the nose gear. Multiple attempts to extend the gear by normal means failed. Backup system were attempted; including manual wobble pump and emergency free fall; both of which failed as well. In contact with tower operators; a fly-by pass was executed for visual confirmation of aircraft confign; at which time an emergency was declared by the tower personnel. A visual approach was executed with the main gear extended and a landing was performed. The aircraft slid to a stop on the runway with the nose gear retracted. Damage was limited to the propeller; spinner; and engine. No airframe damage occurred. As PIC; I was interviewed by cell phone by the NTSB. The event was declared by him to be an 'incident;' as defined; and I was given permission to recover the aircraft at approximately XA00 local; at which time the airport was re-opened by ATC. Subsequent examination revealed a design-induced clearance problem that allowed the nose gear to hang. Corrective action will be taken to eliminate the possibility in the future. I am not aware of any violation of far's or normal safe practice in this event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GLASAIR PILOT REPORTS NOSE LANDING GEAR FAILS TO EXTEND. ALTERNATE METHODS OF GEAR EXTENSION ARE ATTEMPTED WITHOUT SUCCESS. NOSE GEAR UP LANDING ENSUES.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT THE LNDG GEAR EXTENSION SYS FAILED TO DEPLOY THE NOSE GEAR. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND THE GEAR BY NORMAL MEANS FAILED. BACKUP SYS WERE ATTEMPTED; INCLUDING MANUAL WOBBLE PUMP AND EMER FREE FALL; BOTH OF WHICH FAILED AS WELL. IN CONTACT WITH TWR OPERATORS; A FLY-BY PASS WAS EXECUTED FOR VISUAL CONFIRMATION OF ACFT CONFIGN; AT WHICH TIME AN EMER WAS DECLARED BY THE TWR PERSONNEL. A VISUAL APCH WAS EXECUTED WITH THE MAIN GEAR EXTENDED AND A LNDG WAS PERFORMED. THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP ON THE RWY WITH THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTED. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE PROP; SPINNER; AND ENG. NO AIRFRAME DAMAGE OCCURRED. AS PIC; I WAS INTERVIEWED BY CELL PHONE BY THE NTSB. THE EVENT WAS DECLARED BY HIM TO BE AN 'INCIDENT;' AS DEFINED; AND I WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO RECOVER THE ACFT AT APPROX XA00 LCL; AT WHICH TIME THE ARPT WAS RE-OPENED BY ATC. SUBSEQUENT EXAM REVEALED A DESIGN-INDUCED CLRNC PROB THAT ALLOWED THE NOSE GEAR TO HANG. CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY VIOLATION OF FAR'S OR NORMAL SAFE PRACTICE IN THIS EVENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

Glasair pilot reports nose landing gear fails to extend. Alternate methods of gear extension are attempted without success. Nose gear up landing ensues.