What was found
DURING APPROACH TO LAND, IT WAS DISCOVERED BY THE PILOT THAT THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND. NORMAL AND EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION WAS PERFORMED WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SUCCESSFUL NOSE GEAR RETRACTED EMERGENCY LANDING. EXAMINATION BY MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS REVEALED THAT THE AFT ROD END ON THE NOSE GEAR RETRACT ROD ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. THE ROD END WAS INSPECTED BY A METALLURGICAL LAB AND FOUND TO BE A FRESH BREAK WITH NO INDICATION OF PRIOR CRACKING. A NEW ROD END WAS INSTALLED, GEAR RIGGED AND AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.