Date: 201306
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: Haze / Smoke; 8
Light: Dusk
Aircraft: Cessna 404 Titan
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 135
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Cargo / Freight / Delivery
Flight phase: Landing
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Nose Gear
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Single Pilot; Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Workload
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

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




Synopsis: 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.