The second officer was finally able to remove the nose gear light housing but was unable to ascertain if it was burnt out or not, as he went to replace it had jammed. Becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation the captain ordered the second officer to enter the forward electronics bay, below the flight deck, to check visually check the nose gear through a peep hole. At 2337:24, a downward vertical acceleration transient of 0.04 g caused the aircraft to descend 100 feet; the loss in altitude was arrested by a pitch up input. Meanwhile, the flight crew continued their attempts to free the nose gear position light lens from its retainer, without success. (NTSB, 1974) Shortly after 2341, the second officer raised his head into the cockpit and stated, “I can’t see it, its pitch dark and I throw the little light, I get, ah, nothing.” (NTSB, 1974) The flight crew and an Eastern Air Lines maintenance specialist who was occupying the forward observer seat then discussed the operation of the nose wheel well light. Afterward, the specialist went into the electronics bay to assist the second
The second officer was finally able to remove the nose gear light housing but was unable to ascertain if it was burnt out or not, as he went to replace it had jammed. Becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation the captain ordered the second officer to enter the forward electronics bay, below the flight deck, to check visually check the nose gear through a peep hole. At 2337:24, a downward vertical acceleration transient of 0.04 g caused the aircraft to descend 100 feet; the loss in altitude was arrested by a pitch up input. Meanwhile, the flight crew continued their attempts to free the nose gear position light lens from its retainer, without success. (NTSB, 1974) Shortly after 2341, the second officer raised his head into the cockpit and stated, “I can’t see it, its pitch dark and I throw the little light, I get, ah, nothing.” (NTSB, 1974) The flight crew and an Eastern Air Lines maintenance specialist who was occupying the forward observer seat then discussed the operation of the nose wheel well light. Afterward, the specialist went into the electronics bay to assist the second