FLC OF AN MDT RETURNED AND LANDED BECAUSE THE NOSEWHEEL WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER TKOF DUE TO THE SAFETY PIN LEFT IN THE GEAR DURING PREFLT.

Narrative

THE NOSE GEAR PIN WAS LEFT IN BY MAINT AND UNNOTICED BY THE CREW. WHY? FIRST; THE OTHER 2 GEAR PINS WERE IN THE COCKPIT; IN THEIR HOLDERS AND PLAINLY VISIBLE TO THE FO DURING HIS PREFLT CHK. THE THIRD HOLDER AND ASSUMED PIN WAS OBSCURED BY A BAG THAT CONTAINS THE FO LIFE VEST. DURING THE READING OF THE RECEIVING ACFT CHKLIST HE ASKED ME 'GEAR PINS?' AND AS I REACHED FOR MY FLASHLIGHT; HE SAID; 'THERE ARE THREE ON BOARD.' I PUT THE FLASHLIGHT BACK IN ITS HOLDER AND WE CONTINUED WITH THE CHKLIST. SECOND; DURING THE FO'S EXTERIOR INSPECTION THE USUALLY LONG AND RED GEAR PIN FLAG WAS NEITHER. THAT IS; IT WAS STAINED WITH OIL TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT WAS LITERALLY BLACK (A SERIOUS PROB IF YOU'RE CONDUCTING A PREFLT BEFORE SUNRISE) AND IT WAS ALSO TORN SO THAT IT WAS MUCH SHORTER THAN A NORMAL FULL LENGTH FLAG. OUR FLT LASTED 5 OR 10 MINS. BASICALLY IT CONSISTED OF TAKING OFF; CLBING OUT; AND NOTICING THAT THE NOSE GEAR DID NOT RETRACT (THE MAINS; OF COURSE; DID). I ASKED THE FO TO PLEASE RECOUNT THE PINS AND MUCH TO OUR MUTUAL CHAGRIN; THERE WERE ONLY TWO. WE NOTIFIED DEP AND RETURNED TO THE FIELD TO LAND. MAINT MET THE PLANE AND PULLED THE PIN. WE MADE A NOTATION IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK CONCERNING THE INCIDENT; CALLED DISPATCH IN HOUSTON TO GET RERELEASED; FILLED OUT A NEW WT AND BAL FORM; AND THEN DEPARTED.