Accident Narrative
A pilot reported that during takeoff and initial climb at approximately 500 feet altitude, he moved the landing gear handle to the "UP" position. During the retraction sequence, a loud bang was heard and the rudder pedals shuddered. The pilot then lowered the gear handle and observed a green light indication for the main landing gear only. He reduced throttle to check for the landing gear warning horn, but the horn did not activate. Subsequently, he performed the emergency gear extension procedure, but the nose gear did not extend.
During the landing rollout, as airspeed decreased, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a halt on the runway.
Maintenance Records
Examination of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that maintenance had been performed on the nose gear 11 flight hours prior to the accident. Additionally, an annual inspection had been completed 5 flight hours before the accident.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear showed that the damage was consistent with the nose gear strut not receiving proper service. The strut had deflated and was out of alignment.