An MD11 was dispatched with the center landing gear deferred in the up position due to an indicator ...

Attributes
ACN	950377
Time
Date	201105
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Landing Gear Indicating System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30 Flight Crew Total 9200 Flight Crew Type 2000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 110 Flight Crew Total 12600 Flight Crew Type 110
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural MEL Deviation - Procedural Maintenance

Narrative:

Prior to departure we had a center gear primary down and locked indicator light show red. Maintenance troubleshot the system and found they did not have parts to fix the aircraft. We were below the maximum weight for an operation with the center gear retracted MEL. Maintenance complied with the deferral procedure which included a visual inspection of the center gear to verify that it was up and locked. Before departure we discussed the fact that the center gear light was still red. We were told that the synoptic display showed no indication with the center gear switch in the up position and the red center gear light indication was also isolated from the warning system. During the flight we checked the systems manual and found that the center gear primary gear indication was still valid with the center gear switch in the up position. Sure enough; when we descended below 100 AGL on approach; we got an oral landing gear warning. We showed all green on the other gear and the center gear had been verified up and locked before takeoff. I decided to land with the warning. Landing was uneventful. The center gear light needs to be addressed in the MEL for operations with the center gear retracted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MD11 was dispatched with the center landing gear deferred in the up position due to an indicator problem. Upon extending landing flaps at the destination the landing gear warning horn alerted due to a primary center gear red light illuminated. The flight crew questioned whether the proper deferral procedure was utilized.

Narrative: Prior to departure we had a center gear primary down and locked indicator light show red. Maintenance troubleshot the system and found they did not have parts to fix the aircraft. We were below the maximum weight for an operation with the center gear retracted MEL. Maintenance complied with the deferral procedure which included a visual inspection of the center gear to verify that it was up and locked. Before departure we discussed the fact that the center gear light was still red. We were told that the synoptic display showed no indication with the center gear switch in the UP position and the red center gear light indication was also isolated from the warning system. During the flight we checked the systems manual and found that the center gear primary gear indication was still valid with the center gear switch in the UP position. Sure enough; when we descended below 100 AGL on approach; we got an oral landing gear warning. We showed all green on the other gear and the center gear had been verified up and locked before takeoff. I decided to land with the warning. Landing was uneventful. The center gear light needs to be addressed in the MEL for operations with the center gear retracted.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.