A B737-300's left landing gear indicated unsafe when retracted. The landing gear all indicated safe ...

Attributes
ACN	807831
Time
Date	200810
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 13000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial descent : approach
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	807831
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : landing gear warning other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Upon gear retraction after takeoff the left main gear red light remained illuminated with the gear handle both in the up and off position. The after takeoff checklist was accomplished and I had the first officer maintain 210 KTS in the climb. There is no irregular procedure for this problem; so I elected to try cycling the landing gear. The gear indicated down and locked with 3 green lights and no red lights. Upon retraction; the same left main gear red light remained illuminated. I asked ATC for a leveloff at 13000 ft and we remained at 210 KTS in order to stay close to the area while I coordinated with dispatch and maintenance. Maintenance was unable to help us resolve the issue and after consulting with dispatch and my first officer; the decision was made to return to ZZZ. ATC asked if I was declaring an emergency; and since the gear indicated normally on extension; I did not declare an emergency. During the return to ZZZ; approach requested our fuel remaining and souls on board; which was a request from tower. I believe tower declared an emergency for this flight. Upon gear extension on the approach to runway; the landing gear indicated down and locked with 3 green lights. The flight landed normally at ZZZ with fire equipment standing by as requested by ATC. We taxied normally to the gate where the airplane was taken OTS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300'S LEFT LNDG GEAR INDICATED UNSAFE WHEN RETRACTED. THE LNDG GEAR ALL INDICATED SAFE WHEN EXTENDED. THE FLT RETURNED FOR A NORMAL LNDG.

Narrative: UPON GEAR RETRACTION AFTER TKOF THE L MAIN GEAR RED LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE GEAR HANDLE BOTH IN THE UP AND OFF POS. THE AFTER TKOF CHKLIST WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND I HAD THE FO MAINTAIN 210 KTS IN THE CLB. THERE IS NO IRREGULAR PROC FOR THIS PROB; SO I ELECTED TO TRY CYCLING THE LNDG GEAR. THE GEAR INDICATED DOWN AND LOCKED WITH 3 GREEN LIGHTS AND NO RED LIGHTS. UPON RETRACTION; THE SAME L MAIN GEAR RED LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. I ASKED ATC FOR A LEVELOFF AT 13000 FT AND WE REMAINED AT 210 KTS IN ORDER TO STAY CLOSE TO THE AREA WHILE I COORDINATED WITH DISPATCH AND MAINT. MAINT WAS UNABLE TO HELP US RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH DISPATCH AND MY FO; THE DECISION WAS MADE TO RETURN TO ZZZ. ATC ASKED IF I WAS DECLARING AN EMER; AND SINCE THE GEAR INDICATED NORMALLY ON EXTENSION; I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. DURING THE RETURN TO ZZZ; APCH REQUESTED OUR FUEL REMAINING AND SOULS ON BOARD; WHICH WAS A REQUEST FROM TWR. I BELIEVE TWR DECLARED AN EMER FOR THIS FLT. UPON GEAR EXTENSION ON THE APCH TO RWY; THE LNDG GEAR INDICATED DOWN AND LOCKED WITH 3 GREEN LIGHTS. THE FLT LANDED NORMALLY AT ZZZ WITH FIRE EQUIP STANDING BY AS REQUESTED BY ATC. WE TAXIED NORMALLY TO THE GATE WHERE THE AIRPLANE WAS TAKEN OTS.

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.

A B737-300's left landing gear indicated unsafe when retracted. The landing gear all indicated safe when extended. The flight returned for a normal landing.