What was found
DURING NORMAL SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES, THE FORWARD CROSS TUBE BROKE IN HALF CAUSING THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO LOWER. NO HARD LANDING WAS REPORTED PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE TUBE REVEALS THAT THE TUBE BREAK WAS NOT FRESH. THE ATTACHMENT SADDLE MOUNTED TO THE CROSS TUBE APPEARS TO HAVE HIDDEN THE CRACK FROM BEING DETECTED DURING THE NORMAL SCHEDULED INSPECTIONS AT THE 25/375/1000/3000 HOUR INTERVALS. TUBE IS AN ON CONDITION PART AND THIS IS THE FIRST FAILURE RECORDED OF A FORWARD TUBE AS FAR AS OUR RECORDS SEARCH REVEALED.