B737-300 flight crew reports a loud bang from the nose gear area when the landing gear is extended b...

Narrative:

Upon landing gear extension; a loud bang was heard in the nose wheel compartment. We suspected some major malfunction or damage so we configured the aircraft normally for landing but requested a low altitude (500 ft) flyby to have the tower inspect the nose gear for damage. We had three green down and locked and no indication of hydraulic fluid loss. We flew the aircraft by the tower and performed a normal go-around but left the landing gear down. We flew a right downwind visual approach and reconfigured for a normal landing with flaps 30. We discussed the situation between ourselves and had no reason to suspect anything but a normal landing; so communication with the flight attendants was curtailed due to time constraints. Particular attention was made to the nose wheel touchdown rate and touchdown ultimately was slow and soft. Taxi to the gate was normal. Upon reaching the gate; the next crew was in place to perform the preflight inspection; which resulted in observing large quantity of fluid coming from nose wheel area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 flight crew reports a loud bang from the nose gear area when the landing gear is extended but no other anomalies are exhibited. After a Tower fly by a normal landing ensues with taxi to the gate. Post flight reveals a hydraulic leak in the nose gear area.

Narrative: Upon landing gear extension; a loud bang was heard in the nose wheel compartment. We suspected some major malfunction or damage so we configured the aircraft normally for landing but requested a low altitude (500 FT) flyby to have the Tower inspect the nose gear for damage. We had three green down and locked and no indication of hydraulic fluid loss. We flew the aircraft by the Tower and performed a normal go-around but left the landing gear down. We flew a right downwind visual approach and reconfigured for a normal landing with flaps 30. We discussed the situation between ourselves and had no reason to suspect anything but a normal landing; so communication with the flight attendants was curtailed due to time constraints. Particular attention was made to the nose wheel touchdown rate and touchdown ultimately was slow and soft. Taxi to the gate was normal. Upon reaching the gate; the next crew was in place to perform the preflight inspection; which resulted in observing large quantity of fluid coming from nose wheel area.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1026231
Time
Date	201207
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Component
Aircraft Component	Nose Gear
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 252
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 208
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

B737-300 flight crew reports a loud bang from the nose gear area when the landing gear is extended but no other anomalies are exhibited. After a tower fly by a normal landing ensues with taxi to the gate. Post flight reveals a hydraulic leak in the nose gear area.