What was found
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LGA EN ROUTE TO BDL, ON APPROACH TO BDL THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED AT 200 KTS, A LOUD BANG EMINATED FROM THE NOSE GEAR WELL. THE NOSE GEAR LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED AND THE RED LIGHT WAS STILL ON IN THE GEAR HANDLE. EMERGENCY SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, RESULTING IN NO CHANGE. AIRCRAFT LANDED AT BDL WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR ROD END HAD CRACKED AND OPENED. THIS ALLOWED THE LANDING GEAR TO FREE FALL, CAUSING THE DOWN AND LOCK SWITCH MOUNTING BRACKET TO BEND. (M)