The pilot was positioning the aircraft from Adelaide Airport to Parafield where he was instructed to join the circuit on right base for a landing on runway 08L. When the landing gear was extended the nose gear down light failed to illuminate. The pilot initiated a go around and attempted to obtain a safe indication by recycling the gear using both normal and manual methods, but without success.
An inspection from the ground indicated that the nose gear leg was trailing about 30 degrees, which was verified by the pilot of another aircraft flying close by who advised that all the gear retracted normally, but the nose gear trailed when extended.
A decision was made to land the aircraft with the gear retracted to minimise damage.
An investigation revealed that the forward retract drive tube was severely bent, and the rear drive tube bowed. This prevented the nose gear from fully extending.
The reasons why drive tubes were bent could not be determined. The aircraft may have suffered a heavy landing on the nose gear, or it may have been extended very late on the previous landing, with the nose wheel contacting the ground just prior to the gear locking into the down position, bending the tubes, but still with enough energy to engage the down lock. The pilot who flew the aircraft previously denied any knowledge of an abnormal landing.