False gear unsafe indication.

Attributes
ACN	292822
Time
Date	199501
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phf airport : orf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : orf tower : phf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	292822
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On final approach to phf, newport news, we experienced an unsafe landing gear indication on the right main gear. We elected to divert to norfolk for several reasons (longer runway, ground emergency equipment, on the property maintenance support). Visual verification through the landing gear inspection port indicated the gear to be down and locked. A low pass over the runway enabled ground crews to also verify the gear to be down with the use of spotlights. Emergency equipment was requested to stand by and the flight attendants prepared the passenger and cabin for an emergency landing in the event that the gear would not hold in the down and locked position on touchdown. A successful and uneventful landing was accomplished. The gear was pinned and the aircraft was taxied to the gate under its own power. This situation was a false alarm. However, the true dedication, professionalism and knowledge of emergency procedures displayed by the crew members is reassuring that when emergencys do arise they can and will be dealt with in a safe and decisive manner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FALSE GEAR UNSAFE INDICATION.

Narrative: ON FINAL APCH TO PHF, NEWPORT NEWS, WE EXPERIENCED AN UNSAFE LNDG GEAR INDICATION ON THE R MAIN GEAR. WE ELECTED TO DIVERT TO NORFOLK FOR SEVERAL REASONS (LONGER RWY, GND EMER EQUIP, ON THE PROPERTY MAINT SUPPORT). VISUAL VERIFICATION THROUGH THE LNDG GEAR INSPECTION PORT INDICATED THE GEAR TO BE DOWN AND LOCKED. A LOW PASS OVER THE RWY ENABLED GND CREWS TO ALSO VERIFY THE GEAR TO BE DOWN WITH THE USE OF SPOTLIGHTS. EMER EQUIP WAS REQUESTED TO STAND BY AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS PREPARED THE PAX AND CABIN FOR AN EMER LNDG IN THE EVENT THAT THE GEAR WOULD NOT HOLD IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POS ON TOUCHDOWN. A SUCCESSFUL AND UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE GEAR WAS PINNED AND THE ACFT WAS TAXIED TO THE GATE UNDER ITS OWN PWR. THIS SIT WAS A FALSE ALARM. HOWEVER, THE TRUE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND KNOWLEDGE OF EMER PROCS DISPLAYED BY THE CREW MEMBERS IS REASSURING THAT WHEN EMERS DO ARISE THEY CAN AND WILL BE DEALT WITH IN A SAFE AND DECISIVE MANNER.

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.