Cessna 310/T310C
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 38; Flight Crew Total 2398; Flight Crew Type 863
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Human Factors
I took off on an IFR plan. My initial clearance was to climb to 2;000 feet. As I was climbing and raised the gear; I heard a loud thump. The tower advised that my nose gear did not retract and appeared to be dangling.As I was distracted talking to the tower about how I wanted to proceed; I climbed to about 2;500 feet. I was switched to Approach and they asked what my altitude clearance was. I then discovered that I had climbed 500 feet too high and descended to the proper altitude before being turned toward my destination and cleared for further climb.Not knowing what the situation was with my nose gear; and whether I would be able to lower and lock it either with the electric motor or manually; I needed to decide quickly whether to return or proceed to my destination. I determined that the plane was handling properly; whatever the issue with the gear; and decided that the best course was to continue my flight to destination; on the theory that if I was not going to be able to lower the nose gear properly; being in that position in [my destination airport] would be better than having the issue in [my departure airport].I flew to my destination without incident; except; as I now know; that a part of the nose gear linkage had broken. I was not able to lower and lock the nose gear electrically or manually; and eventually had to land with it still dangling; resulting in a collapse of the nose gear.
C-310 pilot experienced a loud thump when the gear was raised after takeoff and the Tower informed that the nosed gear did not retract and appears to be dangling. The reporter decided to continue to his destination where the nose gear collapses on touch down.