SMA JUST OUT FROM ANNUAL HAS STUCK NOSE GEAR.

Narrative

ACFT HAD JUST COMPLETED ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH HAD BEEN DUE IN JULY. I WAS TO RETURN IT TO CUSTOMER'S BASE ARPT; ABOUT 20 MI AWAY. I NOTED IN LOGBOOK THAT ANNUAL WAS SIGNED OFF OCT/XX/93. AS DATE WAS SEP/XY/93 I THOUGHT THAT; TECHNICALLY; ACFT WAS NOT LEGAL TO FLY; BUT FIGURED NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN ON SUCH A SHORT FLT. TOOK OFF; FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. ENTERED PATTERN AND DROPPED GEAR. MAINS POPPED INTO PLACE; PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THEN BREAKER POPPED ON LNDG GEAR. I RECYCLED WITH SAME RESULTS. TRIED TO PULL OUT HAND PUMP BUT IT WAS STUCK. FINALLY; I SLOWED DOWN AND JERKED BACK ON YOKE AND THE G-LOADING POPPED NOSE GEAR IN PLACE AND I GOT A GREEN LIGHT. LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. ACFT WAS RETURNED TO MAINT SHOP AND WORN PARTS FOUND ON NOSE GEAR; A NON-LOCKING NUT WAS USED IN PLACE OF A FIBRE LOCK NUT AND THERE WAS ALMOST NO HYD PRESSURE PUSHING NOSE GEAR DOWN. INSPECTION OF NOSE GEAR (AT ANNUAL) WAS DONE BY A RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED A&P WHO APPARENTLY NEEDS MORE SUPERVISION. IF GEAR HADN'T COME DOWN; I HAVE TO THINK WHAT THE FAA AND INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE DONE CONSIDERING THE POST-DATING OF THE ANNUAL; JUST TO GIVE THE GUY AN EXTRA FEW DAYS BEFORE HIS NEXT INSPECTION.