AN CPR SMT FLEW A TRIP WITH PAX WITH THE LNDG GEAR DOWN IN VIOLATION OF THE MEL AND WITH NO FERRY PERMIT.

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WE HAD LANDED AT TUS AFTER EXPERIENCING A GEAR PROBLEM IN WHICH WE HAD TO MANUALLY PUMP DOWN THE LNDG GEAR. AFTER LNDG; WE CONTACTED MAINT; DESCRIBED OUR PROBLEM AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO FLY HOME WITH THE GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED. WE DECIDED IT WAS REASONABLY SAFE TO DO SO AND WE BOARDED 2 PAX AND TOOK OFF FOR SAN. AFTER ARRIVING SAFELY IN SAN; WE AGAIN DISCUSSED THE SITUATION AND CAME TO SOME DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS ON THE VALIDITY OF OUR JUDGEMENT. THE FIRST WAS WE HAD NO GUARANTEED PERFORMANCE FOR THE CLB SHOULD WE HAVE LOST AN ENG ON TKOF. (THOUGH THE ACFT WAS 'LIGHT'). SECOND WAS THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL TO ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT A FERRY PERMIT SINCE THIS CONDITION WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN OUR MEL. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS AGAIN WITH THE OTHER PLT; WE AGREED THAT WE HAD MADE A POOR JUDGEMENT AND WOULD NOT BE PRESSURED TO HAVE THIS OCCUR AGAIN (EVER!). SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 225150. IN PAST 12 MONTHS GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD TRIPPED CAUSING CREW TO MANUALLY CRANK DOWN GEAR AT LEAST ON 2 OCCASIONS. INTENSIVE INVOLVEMENT WITH MAINT DEPT; FACTORY; AND OTHERS COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM.