Incident Overview
During a flight, the left main landing gear of an airplane failed to retract properly after takeoff. The aircraft remained in the vicinity of the departure airport while the flight crew, in coordination with company maintenance personnel and the airplane manufacturer, attempted to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. These efforts were unsuccessful, and the crew decided to land back at the departure airport.
Landing and Emergency Response
Upon return, crash fire rescue equipment was standing by. After the airplane came to a stop on the runway, fire trucks applied foam to the left wing and wheel area. The crew and passengers then exited the aircraft using the aircraft's airstairs. No injuries were reported during the evacuation.
Post-Inspection Findings
Inspection of the left main landing gear (MLG) revealed that the landing gear trucks had been captured and suspended in an intermediate position by the left main gear inboard door assembly. Further examination of the MLG door actuator fitting showed that the actuator had moved to the far end of the available adjustment range. The incident airplane had landed with the left main landing gear partially extended.