B737 flight crew reported the landing gear failed to fully retract during departure. The crew returned to the departure airport and landed without incident.
Synopsis
B737 flight crew reported the landing gear failed to fully retract during departure. The crew returned to the departure airport and landed without incident.
Narrative
After departing ZZZ for ZZZ1 we went to raise the landing gear and received all red and green Landing Gear Indicator Lights. The Captain (PF) took control of the radios in addition to the aircraft. He advised Air Traffic Control that we needed to level off to run a checklist. I (PM) ran the Landing Gear Fails To Retract non-normal checklist which led us to the (NG) Gear Disagree non-normal checklist. That led us to open and close the manual gear extension access door. Upon doing that it was noted that the door was not completely flush with the floor which; we believed; indicated it was slightly ajar at the time of attempted gear retraction. After opening and closing the manual gear extension access door; as directed by the checklist; and moving the landing gear lever to DN; then UP we showed the red nose gear Landing Gear Indicator Light illuminated. The checklist then led us to Flight with gear down increases fuel consumption and decreases climb performance.'The Captain and I agreed we did not have the fuel to continue the flight to ZZZ1 and the best option was to return to ZZZ. We moved the landing gear lever to DN and received all green Landing Gear Indicator Lights. If we were to immediately return to ZZZ we would have to accomplish an overweight landing. Since the Landing Gear Indicator Lights were illuminating all green and nothing else was of urgency; we decided to hold and burn enough fuel to be within landing weight limits. We advised air traffic control of the updated situation and held until we were within landing weight limits. Once we were within landing weight limits we returned to ZZZ for a normal landing and taxi to the gate. Crash; Fire; Rescue trucks were dispatched and followed us into the gate as a precaution. The Dispatcher; Air Traffic Control; flight attendants; and passengers were updated multiple times; as necessary."
Second reporter narrative
On departure from ZZZ RWY XXR; the landing gear failed to retract. After the gear handle was raised; all red and green GEAR lights were illuminated. We continued a slow climb and retracted the flaps and maintained approximately 230 KIAS. We advised ATC and [requested priority handling]. We got clearance to level off. We referenced the flight manual Non-Normal procedure Landing Gear Fails To Retract. With our indications directed us to the Gear Disagree checklist. With our indications; we followed the checklist. We opened and closed the manual gear access door and verified it was fully closed. When the FO did this he noted it appeared slightly ajar before he cycled the door. After cycling the gear handle; the main gear showed normally retracted (all lights out) but a red light remained for the nose gear. This condition led us to the next step which indicated we would have that gear stuck down and therefore increased fuel consumption for the remainder of the flight. That is the end of that checklist. We had coordinated to level off with ATC and contacted Dispatch on the radio. After consulting with Dispatch we decided a return to ZZZ was the best option. We lowered the gear to ensure a safe condition for landing using normal extension. The gear extended normally. We evaluated whether to land overweight. Since there was no urgency at that time with a safe gear indication; we decided to burn down gas to below the max landing weight. We flew in a holding pattern for approximately 45 minutes and then got vectors for an uneventful landing at ZZZ. As a precaution; crash fire and rescue followed us to gate without incident.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.