20030325016899I

(-23) Aircraft was observed on approach to landing. Watched aircraft until it dropped below hill between myself and the runway. About 15-20 seconds after being out of sight I heard a loud scrapping noise and as the aircraft emerged from behind the hill it was down on it's nose. I was out to the aircraft about 3 minutes after it stopped off the runway. I spoke to the pilot and FAA examiner that were on board. The pilot was taking a commercial/multi-engine checkride. They both stated that they looked at the gear lights and had 3 green lights prior to touchdown. Hagerstown aircraft services moved the aircraft from the runway and when they got the gear doors open and ran the gear motor the nose gear would not go over center and lock. H.a.s. will put a/c on jacks and cycle gear and report their findings. The FAA examiner that was conducting the flight test was neil samonte. Both people on board will submit statements. Have both statements now. Preliminary statement from h.a.s. says nose gear appears to be out of rig. The aircraft was moved from Hagerstown aircraft services to jra executive air inc. for the repairs. Jra put the aircraft on jacks to check the landing gear system. Their inspection revealed that the link assembly p/n 95829-00 was not going over center. The link was adjusted and the gear cycled. After several cycles the gear stopped going over center. Various components of the gear retract system were disassembled and inspected at that time. It was found that the link p/n 95712-00 was found to be distorted and the holes for mounting the actuator and link assembly p/n 95829-00 were significantly oversized. Bushing p/n 95061-89 were worn and distorted. These oversized holes allowed for a change in geometry of the actuator/link/drag brace that will cause the drag brace to go over center sometimes but not always. This condition would account for the nose gear going to a down and locked position sometimes, but not consistently.