FLC OF WDB HAS CTR GEAR LIGHT ACTIVATE WHEN GEAR RETRACTED. THEY DISCOVER THEY ARE SHORT 1 GEAR PIN IN THE COCKPIT. THEY MUST DUMP FUEL AND RETURN TO HAVE THE PIN REMOVED.

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FLT IAH-EWR DC10. ON TKOF CTR GEAR LIGHT INDICATED UNSAFE CONDITION (RED GEAR LIGHT). WE PERFORMED NORMAL AND ABNORMAL CHKLISTS. WE DETERMINED THAT THE CTR GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED BECAUSE WE WERE SHORT 1 GEAR PIN IN THE COCKPIT. WE DUMPED APPROX 17000 LBS OF FUEL; LANDED UNEVENTFUL BACK AT IAH. ON THE GATE MAINT CAME INTO THE COCKPIT WITH 1 MAIN GEAR PIN; NOT A CTR GEAR PIN. MAIN PINS HAVE A FLAG ABOUT 1 1/2 FT LONG; CTR GEAR PINS ARE ABOUT 4 FT LONG. MAINT MISSED THE PIN ON TOW UP. ACFT WAS WORKED ON ALL NIGHT BY MAINT. I WAS INFORMED BY MAINT THAT THE FE COULD NOT HAVE SEEN A MAIN GEAR PIN AT THE CTR GEAR LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S TOO SHORT AND THE GEAR DOORS PREVENT LOOKING INTO THE AREA. SOMEHOW THE FE MISCOUNTED GEAR PINS ON HIS PREFLT. THE FE IS A PROFESSIONAL THOROUGH PERSON. THE GEAR PINS ON MOST OF OUR ACFT ARE WADDED UP IN A MESS; CRAMMED INTO A CORNER OR BOX OF SOME KIND. MOST GUYS DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THE DIRTY OIL COVERED PINS. I SUGGEST WE HAVE A PIN HOLDER MOUNTED SOMEWHERE IN THE COCKPIT IN PLAIN VIEW OF AT LEAST 1 PERSON. IF THE ACFT HAS 4 PINS; HAVE SLOTS FOR EACH PIN. ALSO USE THE APPROPRIATE PIN FOR THE POS.