Corp small transport unable raise gear after takeoff return and land. VFR in IMC. Low altitude alert...

Attributes
ACN	105909
Time
Date	198903
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pwa
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pwa tower : ful
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude other
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	105909
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We picked up our IFR departure clearance from wiley post ground. In effect, it stated after takeoff (runway 25R) heading 035 degrees, climb and maintain 3000'. After takeoff we found that our gear would not retract. Since I still had the airport clearly in sight, I initiated a turn back toward the airport while I could still maintain visibility flight conditions (3 mi). At the same time I had my copilot call tower and tell them we requested to return for landing and the reason. Tower acknowledged and approved our request if we could maintain VFR (which we could). A short time later tower told us they had an altitude alert at which time we told them we were on a right base with the airport still in sight. Tower then cleared us for a contact approach. The landing was uneventful. After further investigation on the ground we found that the gear sensing system was frozen, outside wind chill was -34 degree F, preventing gear retraction. Granted, I should have awaited further clearance before proceeding back to the airport, but in my desire to remain in visibility conditions (and not have to execute the entire approach with the gear down) I did not think of this. Reported WX was IFR, but our in-flight visibility was at least 3 mi.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP SMT UNABLE RAISE GEAR AFTER TKOF RETURN AND LAND. VFR IN IMC. LOW ALT ALERT.

Narrative: WE PICKED UP OUR IFR DEP CLRNC FROM WILEY POST GND. IN EFFECT, IT STATED AFTER TKOF (RWY 25R) HDG 035 DEGS, CLB AND MAINTAIN 3000'. AFTER TKOF WE FOUND THAT OUR GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT. SINCE I STILL HAD THE ARPT CLEARLY IN SIGHT, I INITIATED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT WHILE I COULD STILL MAINTAIN VIS FLT CONDITIONS (3 MI). AT THE SAME TIME I HAD MY COPLT CALL TWR AND TELL THEM WE REQUESTED TO RETURN FOR LNDG AND THE REASON. TWR ACKNOWLEDGED AND APPROVED OUR REQUEST IF WE COULD MAINTAIN VFR (WHICH WE COULD). A SHORT TIME LATER TWR TOLD US THEY HAD AN ALT ALERT AT WHICH TIME WE TOLD THEM WE WERE ON A RIGHT BASE WITH THE ARPT STILL IN SIGHT. TWR THEN CLRED US FOR A CONTACT APCH. THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE GND WE FOUND THAT THE GEAR SENSING SYS WAS FROZEN, OUTSIDE WIND CHILL WAS -34 DEG F, PREVENTING GEAR RETRACTION. GRANTED, I SHOULD HAVE AWAITED FURTHER CLRNC BEFORE PROCEEDING BACK TO THE ARPT, BUT IN MY DESIRE TO REMAIN IN VIS CONDITIONS (AND NOT HAVE TO EXECUTE THE ENTIRE APCH WITH THE GEAR DOWN) I DID NOT THINK OF THIS. RPTED WX WAS IFR, BUT OUR INFLT VISIBILITY WAS AT LEAST 3 MI.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.