Narrative:

The nose landing gear torque links were replaced to fix a nosewheel shimmy problem. While installing the torque links; the lower assembly was installed upside-down. The problem was discovered after the aircraft returned to field; due to the landing gear not retracting and found once gate maintenance inspected the torque links. I was notified that the aircraft returned to field but did not know why until after it was inspected. The aircraft returned to the maintenance hangar and the discrepancy was corrected. I have performed this same task several times without a problem; but it has been some time since I have done it. The lower torque link assembly looks similar upside-down as it does rightside-up. The maintenance manual does not specifying anything about the orientation; nor is there any indication on the part. I feel that if there had been a specific note that the part is able to be installed upside-down I would have paid closer attention to the orientation. The operations check of the installation did pass; but it does not require a gear swing. A note added in the installation task noting that the part is able to be installed incorrectly and that it looks close to the correct installation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BOMBARDIER CRJ-700 ACFT RETURNED TO FIELD DUE TO NOSE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER MAINT REPLACED THE STEERING TORQUE LINKS. LOWER TORQUE LINK INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN.

Narrative: THE NOSE LNDG GEAR TORQUE LINKS WERE REPLACED TO FIX A NOSEWHEEL SHIMMY PROB. WHILE INSTALLING THE TORQUE LINKS; THE LOWER ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED UPSIDE-DOWN. THE PROB WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE ACFT RETURNED TO FIELD; DUE TO THE LNDG GEAR NOT RETRACTING AND FOUND ONCE GATE MAINT INSPECTED THE TORQUE LINKS. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ACFT RETURNED TO FIELD BUT DID NOT KNOW WHY UNTIL AFTER IT WAS INSPECTED. THE ACFT RETURNED TO THE MAINT HANGAR AND THE DISCREPANCY WAS CORRECTED. I HAVE PERFORMED THIS SAME TASK SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT A PROB; BUT IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE I HAVE DONE IT. THE LOWER TORQUE LINK ASSEMBLY LOOKS SIMILAR UPSIDE-DOWN AS IT DOES RIGHTSIDE-UP. THE MAINT MANUAL DOES NOT SPECIFYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ORIENTATION; NOR IS THERE ANY INDICATION ON THE PART. I FEEL THAT IF THERE HAD BEEN A SPECIFIC NOTE THAT THE PART IS ABLE TO BE INSTALLED UPSIDE-DOWN I WOULD HAVE PAID CLOSER ATTN TO THE ORIENTATION. THE OPS CHK OF THE INSTALLATION DID PASS; BUT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A GEAR SWING. A NOTE ADDED IN THE INSTALLATION TASK NOTING THAT THE PART IS ABLE TO BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND THAT IT LOOKS CLOSE TO THE CORRECT INSTALLATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.