MD80 flight crew reports departing with all gear pins installed causing emergency return.

Attributes
ACN	789397
Time
Date	200806
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	789397
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : company policies non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We noticed 3 red gear unsafe lights after takeoff with gear handle up. We went through all QRH procedures which led us to return to ZZZ. We declared an emergency. We landed without any abnormalities. The mechanic noticed gear pins installed at all 3 landing gear. This aircraft had a 1A service check that morning. Gear pins were not supposed to be installed but were. No logbook entry on gear pin installed. My first officer and I just came off a minimum rest from the following day of 12 hours of duty time and 4 legs with mechanical delays. A combination of minimum rest and long duty rigs with nonstandard gear pin practice by maintenance led to this incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW RPTS DEPARTING WITH ALL GEAR PINS INSTALLED CAUSING EMER RETURN.

Narrative: WE NOTICED 3 RED GEAR UNSAFE LIGHTS AFTER TKOF WITH GEAR HANDLE UP. WE WENT THROUGH ALL QRH PROCS WHICH LED US TO RETURN TO ZZZ. WE DECLARED AN EMER. WE LANDED WITHOUT ANY ABNORMALITIES. THE MECH NOTICED GEAR PINS INSTALLED AT ALL 3 LNDG GEAR. THIS ACFT HAD A 1A SVC CHK THAT MORNING. GEAR PINS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED BUT WERE. NO LOGBOOK ENTRY ON GEAR PIN INSTALLED. MY FO AND I JUST CAME OFF A MINIMUM REST FROM THE FOLLOWING DAY OF 12 HRS OF DUTY TIME AND 4 LEGS WITH MECHANICAL DELAYS. A COMBINATION OF MINIMUM REST AND LONG DUTY RIGS WITH NONSTANDARD GEAR PIN PRACTICE BY MAINT LED TO THIS INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.