An A300 flight crew return for landing after experiencing the nose gear doors not closing correctly.

Attributes
ACN	626884
Time
Date	200408
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	626884
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	626885
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : gear warning lights other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We departed jfk no flight #XXX aircraft #xx at approximately XA20 local time, upon gear retraction we experienced an unsafe nose gear door indication on both the forward panel and the overhead, we checked both system and confirmed it. No noise or vibration was apparent until we brought the gear handle to the neutral position. We spoke to jfk maintenance, the indicated it was the captain's call, but if there was any rumbling they advised bringing the aircraft back. There was a rumbling when the system was depressurized which indicated the nosewheel doors where not up and locked. The captain elected to return to jfk. We did not declare an in-flight emergency but asked for the longer runway 31L. The captain flew the approach and landing. We touched down at 388000 pounds at 142 KTS sink rate of 150 FPM, soft touchdown. We checked for hot brakes and any other abnormalities. None. Taxied to the gate uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A300 FLT CREW RETURN FOR LNDG AFTER EXPERIENCING THE NOSE GEAR DOORS NOT CLOSING CORRECTLY.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED JFK NO FLT #XXX ACFT #XX AT APPROX XA20 LCL TIME, UPON GEAR RETRACTION WE EXPERIENCED AN UNSAFE NOSE GEAR DOOR INDICATION ON BOTH THE FORWARD PANEL AND THE OVERHEAD, WE CHKED BOTH SYS AND CONFIRMED IT. NO NOISE OR VIBRATION WAS APPARENT UNTIL WE BROUGHT THE GEAR HANDLE TO THE NEUTRAL POS. WE SPOKE TO JFK MAINT, THE INDICATED IT WAS THE CAPT'S CALL, BUT IF THERE WAS ANY RUMBLING THEY ADVISED BRINGING THE ACFT BACK. THERE WAS A RUMBLING WHEN THE SYS WAS DEPRESSURIZED WHICH INDICATED THE NOSEWHEEL DOORS WHERE NOT UP AND LOCKED. THE CAPT ELECTED TO RETURN TO JFK. WE DID NOT DECLARE AN INFLT EMER BUT ASKED FOR THE LONGER RWY 31L. THE CAPT FLEW THE APCH AND LNDG. WE TOUCHED DOWN AT 388000 LBS AT 142 KTS SINK RATE OF 150 FPM, SOFT TOUCHDOWN. WE CHKED FOR HOT BRAKES AND ANY OTHER ABNORMALITIES. NONE. TAXIED TO THE GATE UNEVENTFUL.

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.