Narrative:

During preflight inspection of aircraft the nose gear pin was noted to be still installed. After completing walkaround inspection I found a ground crewman with a radio and informed her that one of our mechanics had to remove the gear pin, that we were not allowed to. She stated that she would take care of it, that it was 'no problem.' I then continued with my preflight inspection and cockpit preparation. Shortly after takeoff, after the gear handle was raised, we observed an unsafe gear warning. The problem was immediately recognized by me, and we returned for an uneventful landing to have the gear pin removed. In the future, especially because of possible language difficulties, I would stay in the area of the affected landing gear until said pin is actually removed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB TKOF WITH NOSE GEAR PIN INSTALLED.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT INSPECTION OF ACFT THE NOSE GEAR PIN WAS NOTED TO BE STILL INSTALLED. AFTER COMPLETING WALKAROUND INSPECTION I FOUND A GND CREWMAN WITH A RADIO AND INFORMED HER THAT ONE OF OUR MECHS HAD TO REMOVE THE GEAR PIN, THAT WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO. SHE STATED THAT SHE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT, THAT IT WAS 'NO PROB.' I THEN CONTINUED WITH MY PREFLT INSPECTION AND COCKPIT PREPARATION. SHORTLY AFTER TKOF, AFTER THE GEAR HANDLE WAS RAISED, WE OBSERVED AN UNSAFE GEAR WARNING. THE PROB WAS IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED BY ME, AND WE RETURNED FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG TO HAVE THE GEAR PIN REMOVED. IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES, I WOULD STAY IN THE AREA OF THE AFFECTED LNDG GEAR UNTIL SAID PIN IS ACTUALLY REMOVED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.