Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45; Flight Crew Total 9592; Flight Crew Type 164
Other / Unknown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Human Factors; Manuals
After day VFR/VMC flight; the nose gear failed to extend when the landing gear was selected down. After running appropriate checklists and procedures it was determined that the nose gear would not be available for landing and remained in the wheel well. The landing was made to Runway XX at ZZZ which was into the wind. The landing was accomplished on the centerline of the runway using aerodynamic braking to lower energy before lowering the nose to the runway. The aircraft came to a stop and was shut down and secured on the runway. No injury to pilot. The aircraft nose sustained minor damage (scrape) to the nose. The cause was determined to be a loose tow pin which is a piece of pipe placed through the hub for the purpose of towing. During preflight; I did not recognize that the pin was in place as I removed the nose wheel chock.After [the] nose wheel fail-to-extend occurrence; I became aware that the aircraft did not have the proper registration; maintenance program for experimental aircraft; or operating limits. I did possess a copy of a registration from the owner which I believed was valid. Also; since the aircraft was still under the control of the maintenance facility; I believed that the aircraft could be dispatched and that operating limits and maintenance program were in order. The aircraft was released to me by the mechanic responsible for the maintenance on the aircraft.
GA pilot reported failing to notice the tow pin was still installed on nose gear during pre-flight. Gear up landing occurred and aircraft sustained minor damage.