I wonder if anyone else on here witnessed the incident with a Carvair in the 60s (1962?)where the nosewheel on takeoff turned to retract, wouldn't retract and wouldn't turn back?
I don't think there were any pax on board, and the crew piled all the seats and anything they could move into the rear for a nose up landing. We all stopped work and went onto the apron for the landing which was carried out faultlessly by the pilot who kept the nosewheel aloft for an amazing distance and (IIRC) when it touched, it snapped round and there was no incident.
In fact, the only excitement was provided by a police Austin Westminster which waited at the runway threshold and made a loud whooshing sound as the driver chased the aircraft down the runway.