An MD80 after takeoff returned to the field due to unable to retract the nose landing gear caused by...

Attributes
ACN	386201
Time
Date	199711
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	386201
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	386200
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

It has been brought to my attention, that air carrier aircraft xyz experienced a landing gear problem after takeoff from ZZZ on nov/xa/97. When the aircraft returned to field, maintenance reported both bolts missing from the left nose gear spray deflector (aft bolts). I replaced the left nosewheel, 2 days before, and I feel certain that I installed and torqued the bolts per the air carrier maintenance manual. But as I look at the situation, the aircraft flew approximately 8 flts before the incident occurred with no other documented work being performed on the landing gear. Perhaps the locknuts were not torqued properly, or were faulty (worn). I have heard of this problem happening before. Maybe the MD80 spray deflectors could be modified with index pins, or fail safe bolts to prevent this from happening again. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the nose gear spray deflector must be removed in order to replace the nose gear tire and wheel assembly. The reporter said this job was done numerous times and finds it hard to believe the bolts were not installed and torqued. The reporter said the FAA has made no contact.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 AFTER TKOF RETURNED TO THE FIELD DUE TO UNABLE TO RETRACT THE NOSE LNDG GEAR CAUSED BY A LOOSE L NOSE GEAR SPRAY DEFLECTOR WHICH JAMMED THE GEAR AND DOOR ON RETRACTION.

Narrative: IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTN, THAT ACR ACFT XYZ EXPERIENCED A LNDG GEAR PROB AFTER TKOF FROM ZZZ ON NOV/XA/97. WHEN THE ACFT RETURNED TO FIELD, MAINT RPTED BOTH BOLTS MISSING FROM THE L NOSE GEAR SPRAY DEFLECTOR (AFT BOLTS). I REPLACED THE L NOSEWHEEL, 2 DAYS BEFORE, AND I FEEL CERTAIN THAT I INSTALLED AND TORQUED THE BOLTS PER THE ACR MAINT MANUAL. BUT AS I LOOK AT THE SIT, THE ACFT FLEW APPROX 8 FLTS BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH NO OTHER DOCUMENTED WORK BEING PERFORMED ON THE LNDG GEAR. PERHAPS THE LOCKNUTS WERE NOT TORQUED PROPERLY, OR WERE FAULTY (WORN). I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROB HAPPENING BEFORE. MAYBE THE MD80 SPRAY DEFLECTORS COULD BE MODIFIED WITH INDEX PINS, OR FAIL SAFE BOLTS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE NOSE GEAR SPRAY DEFLECTOR MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE NOSE GEAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE RPTR SAID THIS JOB WAS DONE NUMEROUS TIMES AND FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE THE BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED AND TORQUED. THE RPTR SAID THE FAA HAS MADE NO CONTACT.

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.

An MD80 after takeoff returned to the field due to unable to retract the nose landing gear caused by a loose left nose gear spray deflector which jammed the gear and door on retraction.