Aircraft unable to retract center landing gear after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	430796
Time
Date	199903
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Fog Snow
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ind.tracon tower : ind.tower tower : ind.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 30F
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 14900 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	430796
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 503
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

After takeoff at ind, the center gear could not retract. We climbed to 6000 ft and stayed in the vicinity of ind. I complied with the appropriate checklists and contacted my company. We returned to ind and landed. We were met by emergency vehicles. I had not declared an emergency. Upon returning to our gate, it was discovered that the center gear pin was still installed. There was no red flag attached to the pin. There were 4 red gear pin flags in the cockpit. The so insists that he checked the center gear for the pin and flag, but did not see either. It was predawn and snowing when he performed the preflight. I have been informed by maintenance that he would have needed a step ladder in order to see this pin without the red flag attached. Our maintenance department will investigate how the pin remained installed after extended maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT UNABLE TO RETRACT CTR LNDG GEAR AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF AT IND, THE CTR GEAR COULD NOT RETRACT. WE CLBED TO 6000 FT AND STAYED IN THE VICINITY OF IND. I COMPLIED WITH THE APPROPRIATE CHKLISTS AND CONTACTED MY COMPANY. WE RETURNED TO IND AND LANDED. WE WERE MET BY EMER VEHICLES. I HAD NOT DECLARED AN EMER. UPON RETURNING TO OUR GATE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CTR GEAR PIN WAS STILL INSTALLED. THERE WAS NO RED FLAG ATTACHED TO THE PIN. THERE WERE 4 RED GEAR PIN FLAGS IN THE COCKPIT. THE SO INSISTS THAT HE CHKED THE CTR GEAR FOR THE PIN AND FLAG, BUT DID NOT SEE EITHER. IT WAS PREDAWN AND SNOWING WHEN HE PERFORMED THE PREFLT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MAINT THAT HE WOULD HAVE NEEDED A STEP LADDER IN ORDER TO SEE THIS PIN WITHOUT THE RED FLAG ATTACHED. OUR MAINT DEPT WILL INVESTIGATE HOW THE PIN REMAINED INSTALLED AFTER EXTENDED MAINT.

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.