20130202002849I

During routine pilot training and the fifth consecutive landing, the nose gear green light, indicating the nose gear is in the down and locked position, failed to illuminate when the landing gear selector handle was placed in the down (gear extend) position. The pilot in command retracted and extended the landing gear handle three (3) more times with the same results, no illumination of the nose gear indication light. The pilot performed a low flight pass in front of the dwh control tower and was told by the tower operator that the nose landing gear appeared to be down. The pilot elected to perform a soft field landing on runway 35L at dwh in anticipation of nose gear failure. Upon nose gear touchdown on the runway, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid to a stop on the nose section of the aircraft. The aircraft was within the required 100 hour/annual inspection. The aircraft was manufacturerd in 1959 and there was no indication that the failed component had ever been replaced. The rod end, attached to the nose gear actuator, was found fractured. The rod end apparently was in tact enough to push the gear down but not lock into position. When pressure was applied to the nose wheel assembly/landing gear upon touchdown, the rod end failed and the nose gear collapsed. The maintenance facility is completing a malfunction defect report for the failed component.