Narrative:

After liftoff captain called for gear up and I raised the landing gear handle to the up position and we noticed immediately that gear did not retract. Captain called for QRH and stated that he had the aircraft and the ATC communications. I worked checklist while captain advised ATC that we were working a problem. Captain advised ATC that he wanted to return and requested arf standby. I worked checklists and was able to determine that the reason the gear did not come up was most likely the manual gear access door not contacting switch under door. On preflight the door appeared closed. Landed uneventfully; cleared runway and taxied back to gate. At gate captain wrote up incident in logbook and called dispatch to advise. Also debriefed maintenance representative after maintenance action was complete and logbook signed off we were dispatched without incident.manual gear access door appeared to have dirt and grime which seemed to foul the latch. I could pop the door open with my finger nails even though it appeared fully closed. Flight manual calls to check door closed on preflight. I checked door and it appeared closed. There is no way that I know to check if the switch under the access door is depressed until you raise the gear handle and find out your hydraulics have been deactivated due to the door not being fully seated. I don't know what the maintenance cycle is on this door or the switch but it should be routinely cleaned and lubricated to prevent future incidents of this nature.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 flight crew reports failure of the landing gear to retract after takeoff. During QRH procedures it is determined that the manual gear extension door is not seated properly and not contacting the switch below. The gear retracts when the door is properly seated but the crew elects to return for maintenance.

Narrative: After liftoff Captain called for gear up and I raised the landing gear handle to the up position and we noticed immediately that gear did not retract. Captain called for QRH and stated that he had the aircraft and the ATC communications. I worked checklist while Captain advised ATC that we were working a problem. Captain advised ATC that he wanted to return and requested ARF standby. I worked checklists and was able to determine that the reason the gear did not come up was most likely the manual gear access door not contacting switch under door. On preflight the door appeared closed. Landed uneventfully; cleared runway and taxied back to gate. At gate Captain wrote up incident in logbook and called Dispatch to advise. Also debriefed Maintenance Representative after maintenance action was complete and logbook signed off we were dispatched without incident.Manual gear access door appeared to have dirt and grime which seemed to foul the latch. I could pop the door open with my finger nails even though it appeared fully closed. Flight Manual calls to check door closed on preflight. I checked door and it appeared closed. There is no way that I know to check if the switch under the access door is depressed until you raise the gear handle and find out your hydraulics have been deactivated due to the door not being fully seated. I don't know what the maintenance cycle is on this door or the switch but it should be routinely cleaned and lubricated to prevent future incidents of this nature.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.