An emb-145 flight crew declared an emergency and returned to their departure airport when they were ...

Narrative:

After takeoff and positive rate I called for gear up. The handle would not move to the up position. We then got the EICAS message landing gear air ground fail message. We then performed the QRH actions that stated land at the nearest suitable airport. We notified ATC and declared an emergency. I briefed the flight attendant and passengers of the situation and that we were returning to [departure airport.] the first officer ACARS'd dispatch and notified operations that we would be returning soon. The approach and landing were normal less the use of the thrust reversers. After the emergency personnel inspected the plane we taxied to the gate on our own power. One fix might be more preventable maintenance. I understand that all things can not be foreseen and that things break; but the day of this event I had total of three maintenance issues on two different planes. It just seems that lately I fly more planes with mels than without.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An EMB-145 flight crew declared an emergency and returned to their departure airport when they were unable to raise the landing gear handle and received a landing gear air ground fail EICAS message.

Narrative: After takeoff and positive rate I called for gear up. The handle would not move to the up position. We then got the EICAS message Landing gear air ground fail message. We then performed the QRH actions that stated land at the nearest suitable airport. We notified ATC and declared an emergency. I briefed the Flight Attendant and passengers of the situation and that we were returning to [departure airport.] The First Officer ACARS'd Dispatch and notified Operations that we would be returning soon. The approach and landing were normal less the use of the thrust reversers. After the emergency personnel inspected the plane we taxied to the gate on our own power. One fix might be more preventable maintenance. I understand that all things can not be foreseen and that things break; but the day of this event I had total of three maintenance issues on two different planes. It just seems that lately I fly more planes with MELs than without.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1095772
Time
Date	201306
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Gear Extend/Retract Mechanism
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

An emb-145 flight crew declared an emergency and returned to their departure airport when they were unable to raise the landing gear handle and received a landing gear air ground fail EICAS message.