EA32 crew had landing gear problems when the gear was retracted after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	436485
Time
Date	199905
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3650
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 283 flight time total : 17268 flight time type : 2044
ASRS Report	436485
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After takeoff, gear retraction problem with a loud bang and vibration. ATC was advised that we needed to talk to maintenance for further information on aircraft status. The controller asked if we wanted to stay lower than the initial clearance to 5000 ft. We accepted 3000 ft while passing through 2700 ft. The altitude of 3000 ft was set in the flight control unit and the autoplt engaged. The first officer contacted maintenance on the other radio. Concerned with the vibration, I attempted to change the speed within the flap parameter. Unnoticed, the flight guidance went into vertical speed and failed to capture the altitude. The aural warning was disabled due to autoplt engagement. ATC asked about our altitude while climbing through 3650 ft. I asked for 4000 ft and leveled off. While in a holding pattern we declared an emergency and returned to our departure airport for a successful emergency overweight landing. I realize that I hurried too much in my preoccupation with the problem, and depended on the autoflt system, without proper monitoring of performance. Distrs require extra vigilance to avoid compromising aircraft guidance. This incident happened on the 4TH day of a pairing involving 3 back-of-the-clock duty periods.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EA32 CREW HAD LNDG GEAR PROBS WHEN THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF, GEAR RETRACTION PROB WITH A LOUD BANG AND VIBRATION. ATC WAS ADVISED THAT WE NEEDED TO TALK TO MAINT FOR FURTHER INFO ON ACFT STATUS. THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WANTED TO STAY LOWER THAN THE INITIAL CLRNC TO 5000 FT. WE ACCEPTED 3000 FT WHILE PASSING THROUGH 2700 FT. THE ALT OF 3000 FT WAS SET IN THE FLT CTL UNIT AND THE AUTOPLT ENGAGED. THE FO CONTACTED MAINT ON THE OTHER RADIO. CONCERNED WITH THE VIBRATION, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE SPD WITHIN THE FLAP PARAMETER. UNNOTICED, THE FLT GUIDANCE WENT INTO VERT SPD AND FAILED TO CAPTURE THE ALT. THE AURAL WARNING WAS DISABLED DUE TO AUTOPLT ENGAGEMENT. ATC ASKED ABOUT OUR ALT WHILE CLBING THROUGH 3650 FT. I ASKED FOR 4000 FT AND LEVELED OFF. WHILE IN A HOLDING PATTERN WE DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO OUR DEP ARPT FOR A SUCCESSFUL EMER OVERWT LNDG. I REALIZE THAT I HURRIED TOO MUCH IN MY PREOCCUPATION WITH THE PROB, AND DEPENDED ON THE AUTOFLT SYS, WITHOUT PROPER MONITORING OF PERFORMANCE. DISTRS REQUIRE EXTRA VIGILANCE TO AVOID COMPROMISING ACFT GUIDANCE. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE 4TH DAY OF A PAIRING INVOLVING 3 BACK-OF-THE-CLOCK DUTY PERIODS.

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.