Large transport crew returned to their departure station when the nose gear would not retract.

Attributes
ACN	428228
Time
Date	199902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	428228
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

An air return was made back in ewr for failing to see the gear pins were removed before takeoff. United stated customs service boarded the airplane while it was at the gate in ewr. They ordered all employees to deplane and move away from the aircraft. A customs reinspection of the aircraft took about 20 mins. After the inspection, everyone hurried to put the flight back on schedule. It was during this period of time a communications failure on my part occurred to see that the gear pins were removed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT CREW RETURNED TO THEIR DEP STATION WHEN THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT.

Narrative: AN AIR RETURN WAS MADE BACK IN EWR FOR FAILING TO SEE THE GEAR PINS WERE REMOVED BEFORE TKOF. UNITED STATED CUSTOMS SVC BOARDED THE AIRPLANE WHILE IT WAS AT THE GATE IN EWR. THEY ORDERED ALL EMPLOYEES TO DEPLANE AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE ACFT. A CUSTOMS REINSPECTION OF THE ACFT TOOK ABOUT 20 MINS. AFTER THE INSPECTION, EVERYONE HURRIED TO PUT THE FLT BACK ON SCHEDULE. IT WAS DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME A COMS FAILURE ON MY PART OCCURRED TO SEE THAT THE GEAR PINS WERE REMOVED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.