Narrative:

After raising the landing gear handle the gear status light for the left main landing gear remained red. The gear light matched the gear status on the configuration synoptic page. All other indications (drag; wind noise) appeared consistent with successful gear retraction. We remained in the airport traffic area and below 230 KIAS and followed the QRH procedures. [An exploratory] gear extension was successful; however; a subsequent retraction yielded the same result; a red light for the left main gear. After consulting with the company; we agreed to continue to destination at 300 KIAS/0.7 mach. Later; we received an ACARS message asking us to return to our departure airport. We called dispatch and suggested another airport; as we were almost over another company maintenance base; and there would [also better serve our passengers's needs]. After consultion; maintenance control; the duty manager and dispatch all agreed; and we diverted as requrested where another airplane was waiting. We deplaned; gave the aircraft to maintenance; boarded the new aircraft; and continued uneventfully to our destination.maintenance determined the cause of the problem was a broken spring.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B717-200 diverted to an enroute airport for maintenance when the left main landing gear geve indications of having failed to retract after takeoff.

Narrative: After raising the landing gear handle the gear status light for the left main landing gear remained red. The gear light matched the gear status on the configuration synoptic page. All other indications (drag; wind noise) appeared consistent with successful gear retraction. We remained in the airport traffic area and below 230 KIAS and followed the QRH procedures. [An exploratory] gear extension was successful; however; a subsequent retraction yielded the same result; a red light for the left main gear. After consulting with the Company; we agreed to continue to destination at 300 KIAS/0.7 mach. Later; we received an ACARS message asking us to return to our departure airport. We called Dispatch and suggested another airport; as we were almost over another company maintenance base; and there would [also better serve our passengers's needs]. After consultion; Maintenance Control; the Duty Manager and Dispatch all agreed; and we diverted as requrested where another airplane was waiting. We deplaned; gave the aircraft to maintenance; boarded the new aircraft; and continued uneventfully to our destination.Maintenance determined the cause of the problem was a broken spring.

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.