ACFT EQUIP PROBLEM MANDATES A DIVERSION TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

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ARRIVED AT THE ARPT (LGB) AT XYPM AFTER A YYPM CALL FOR A MEDICAL EMER CHARTER PICKUP AT NORTON AFB (SBD) AND THEN TO GO ON TO LEXINGTON; KY (LEX). I (CAPT) DID NORMAL PAPERWORK. ACFT WAS ALREADY ON THE LINE. I RECEIVED A DISPATCH RELEASE FROM THE MAIN OFFICE AND SUPERVISED FUELING AND FILED FLT PLANS. THE TYPE RATED COPLT DID THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PREFLTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR STANDARD DOCTRINE. AFTER FUELING I WENT TO MAIN DOOR AFTER A LOOK TO SEE IF FUEL DOOR WAS PROPERLY CLOSED. THE COPLT INDICATED THE PREFLT WAS COMPLETED. COPLT FLEW THE DEADHEAD LEG TO SBD FROM THE L SEAT. FLT SEEMED NORMAL. ON LNDG WE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH GETTING CREDIT FOR FUEL AND A PAGE CAME TO US FROM THE HOSPITAL DISPATCHER. THE COPLT MONITORED FUELING WHILE I HANDLED THE 2 PROBLEMS AT THE BASE OPS OFFICE. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK; THE AMBULANCE HAD ARRIVED WITH THE MEDICAL CREW. I CONFIRMED THE FUEL DOOR WAS SECURE AND WE DEPARTED ON TAXI OUT A BIT OF A RUBBING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THEN DISAPPEARED. THIS NOISE AGAIN SOUNDED AFTER V1. TKOF WAS ACCOMPLISHED NORMALLY; BUT A GEAR UP UNSAFE LIGHT WAS SHOWING. GEAR WAS RECYCLED 2 TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. FUEL WAS DUMPED AND A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG WAS MADE AT ONT. THE NOISE WAS AGAIN HEARD ON TAXI IN. SHUTDOWN WAS NORMAL. INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THE NOSE GEAR SCISSORS WERE DISCONNECTED AND THE PIN WAS HANGING LOOSE. THE COPLT DID NOT REMEMBER CONNECTING IT AS PER THE NORMAL PREFLT. NEITHER DID THE LINE PERSON WHO ADMITTED NOT MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH TOWING. THE CAUSE WAS CLRLY MULTI- FACETED. OUR NORMAL MECH WAS UNAVAILABLE TO SUPERVISE TOWING. THE COPLT AND CAPT FELT RUSHED IN THAT A LIFE WAS ON THE LINE FOR A PEDIATRIC HEART TRANSPLANT. IT WAS NIGHT. AN INEXPERIENCED LINE PERSON TOWED THE ACFT. THE HR WAS LATE AND THE CREW HAD BEEN UP ALL DAY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 206279: THERE IS AN APPEARANCE OF A FAILURE OF THE SWASH PLATE WHICH BUTTS THE BALL STOPS IN THE LINKAGE PIN.