Alert Extracted From:
AC No. 43-16A
Alert No. 316
November 2004

Cessna; Model 177-RG; Nose Landing Gear Malfunction; ATA 3230

The nose landing gear failed to extend during approach. The cockpit indicator and the wing-mounted mirror confirmed the nose gear was not extended. The pilot made several attempts to extend the landing gear normally and manually as provided by the emergency checklist; however, all attempts were unsuccessful. He declared an emergency and landed the aircraft with the nose gear retracted.

When the aircraft was lifted, the nose gear doors fell open, and the gear was pumped down using the emergency gear pump in the cockpit. According to the submitter, no obvious cause factor for the incident could readily be
determined.

The submitter indicated that a similar incident with this aircraft had occurred in July of 2000 at Lansing Municipal Airport in Lansing, Illinois. The mode of failure for the prior incident is very similar to this incident.

No single cause was ever identified for the extension malfunction. The aircraft was repaired and had been flown for approximately 700 hours until this latest incident occurred.