The flight crew of a P180 cycled the landing gear several times before obtaining three gear safe lights. They declared a precautionary emergency in order to have equipment standing by for landing.

Narrative

During a visual approach when the landing gear was selected down the nose wheel failed to illuminate a down and locked position light. We requested to continue in the pattern from the Tower and leveled at pattern altitude. I tested the lamp circuitry via the lamp test panel and did not get a nose wheel light in either the up or down position. All hydraulic pressures were consistent with a down and locked nose wheel. I recycled the gear three times. On the third time the nose wheel down and locked light illuminated. Had I not received the light so quickly I was prepared to run the Abnormal Checklist.I advised Tower that our problem had been resolved but; at the Tower Controller's request; we declared an emergency to have the support trucks standing by. Since all indications were normal; we ran the normal Before Landing Checklist with the gear down and locked. We made a normal landing and taxied to parking. I believe the situation was an intermittent mechanical issue. I reported the event to Maintenance for investigation and repair.