Narrative:

During initial climb out; the gear lever was raised to the up position per normal climb out procedure. The landing gear handle indicated red and the audible gear horn activated. The landing gear could be heard going through the up cycle. After hearing the up cycle complete; the gear handle was placed in the down position. The gear could be heard going through the down cycle. Gear indicators all indicated normal; 'three green'. Advised tower of having landing gear indicator problems and I requested to make closed traffic and return to land. Tower offered to take a look at the landing gear [so] I agreed to make a low pass [after which] tower [said] the gear looked normal. I [was] cleared to make right traffic and land. Tower advised that they would [have] equipment standing by. I responded that was fine; but I did not declared an emergency. Landed and returned to the ramp. I determined that a squat switch did [not] function; therefore the airplane was still in ground mode. I made a visual inspection of the gear and squat switches; all were intact and no broken wires. I determined airplane was safe to fly. Departed and completed trip. The plane was put into the shop for repairs upon returning; and the squat switch was found to be the problem. The squat switch is being replaced. I was advised after this flight that I may or may not have been legal to fly the airplane is this condition. I also found out the tower declared an emergency on my behalf. Looking back on the matter; a flight permit may have been needed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE300 pilot reported landing gear indication problems. After a fly-by; a normal landing was made with equipment standing by. The problem was later traced to a bad squat switch.

Narrative: During initial climb out; the gear lever was raised to the up position per normal climb out procedure. The landing gear handle indicated red and the audible gear horn activated. The landing gear could be heard going through the up cycle. After hearing the up cycle complete; the gear handle was placed in the down position. The gear could be heard going through the down cycle. Gear indicators all indicated normal; 'three green'. Advised Tower of having landing gear indicator problems and I requested to make closed traffic and return to land. Tower offered to take a look at the landing gear [so] I agreed to make a low pass [after which] Tower [said] the gear looked normal. I [was] cleared to make right traffic and land. Tower advised that they would [have] equipment standing by. I responded that was fine; but I did not declared an emergency. Landed and returned to the ramp. I determined that a squat switch did [not] function; therefore the airplane was still in ground mode. I made a visual inspection of the gear and squat switches; all were intact and no broken wires. I determined airplane was safe to fly. Departed and completed trip. The plane was put into the shop for repairs upon returning; and the squat switch was found to be the problem. The squat switch is being replaced. I was advised after this flight that I may or may not have been legal to fly the airplane is this condition. I also found out the Tower declared an emergency on my behalf. Looking back on the matter; a flight permit may have been needed.

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.