ACR LTT NOSE GEAR FAILED TO EXTEND FOR LNDG AT DCA. ACFT DIVERTED TO BWI WHERE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER LNDG.

Narrative

12/88 WHILE SERVING AS F/O FROM ABE TO DCA IN AN LTT ACFT; THE NOSE LNDG GEAR FAILED TO FULLY EXTEND DURING OUR PREPARATION FOR LNDG IN DCA. COCKPIT INDICATION OF THIS PROB WAS A RED (UNSAFE) INDICATION FOR THE NOSE AND 2 GREEN (NORMAL DOWN) FOR THE MAIN GEAR. ALL HYD PRESSURES AND ELECTRICAL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. AFTER REQUESTING AND RECEIVING A CLR AREA TO FLY IN; THE CAPT AND I FOLLOWED ALL EMER PROCS BUT WERE UNABLE TO GET A GOOD DOWN INDICATION. WE FLEW BY DCA TWR TWICE AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE NOSE GEAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS 'TRAILING A LITTLE.' DCA TWR (THROUGH OUR OPS) ADVISED THAT WE PROCEEDED FOR LNDG AT BWI; WHERE COMPANY HAD MORE MAINT SUPPORT. WE MADE A NORMAL APCH TO LNDG; KEEPING THE 3 PAX FULLY INFORMED OF THE SITUATION AND ADVISING THEM TO TAKE A BRACE POS UNTIL WE CAME TO A STOP. THE ACFT ROLLED OUT NORMALLY WITH THE CAPT TRIMMING NOSE UP CONTINUALLY TO KEEP WT OFF THAT WHEEL. WE USED NO BRAKES AND NO REVERSE THRUST AND ALLOWED THE ACFT TO ROLL OUT. AS WE ANGLED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT TO CLR THE RWY NEAR THE END OF OUR ROLLOUT; THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH. EMER EQUIP WAS STANDING BY DUE TO OUR PREVIOUS REQUEST FOR IT. PAX WERE EVACUATED BY THE REAR DOOR AFTER IMMEDIATE ENG SHUTDOWN. THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT (GEAR DOORS WERE SHAVED DOWN OR BENT) AND IT FLEW BACK TO SALISBURY LATER THAT SAME DAY FOR MAINT. I HAVE HIGH PRAISE FOR THE WAY THE CAPT HANDLED THE SITUATION AND THE ADVICE AND SUPPORT RECEIVED OVER THE RADIO FROM THE COMPANY. THE PAX WERE HAPPY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAUSE OF THE NOSE GEAR FAILING TO EXTEND PROPERLY AND LOCK DOWN IS UNDER MAINT INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME.