AN MD80 AFTER TKOF RETURNED TO THE FIELD DUE TO UNABLE TO RETRACT THE NOSE LNDG GEAR CAUSED BY A LOOSE L NOSE GEAR SPRAY DEFLECTOR WHICH JAMMED THE GEAR AND DOOR ON RETRACTION.

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IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTN; THAT ACR ACFT XYZ EXPERIENCED A LNDG GEAR PROB AFTER TKOF FROM ZZZ ON NOV/XA/97. WHEN THE ACFT RETURNED TO FIELD; MAINT RPTED BOTH BOLTS MISSING FROM THE L NOSE GEAR SPRAY DEFLECTOR (AFT BOLTS). I REPLACED THE L NOSEWHEEL; 2 DAYS BEFORE; AND I FEEL CERTAIN THAT I INSTALLED AND TORQUED THE BOLTS PER THE ACR MAINT MANUAL. BUT AS I LOOK AT THE SIT; THE ACFT FLEW APPROX 8 FLTS BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH NO OTHER DOCUMENTED WORK BEING PERFORMED ON THE LNDG GEAR. PERHAPS THE LOCKNUTS WERE NOT TORQUED PROPERLY; OR WERE FAULTY (WORN). I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROB HAPPENING BEFORE. MAYBE THE MD80 SPRAY DEFLECTORS COULD BE MODIFIED WITH INDEX PINS; OR FAIL SAFE BOLTS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE NOSE GEAR SPRAY DEFLECTOR MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE NOSE GEAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE RPTR SAID THIS JOB WAS DONE NUMEROUS TIMES AND FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE THE BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED AND TORQUED. THE RPTR SAID THE FAA HAS MADE NO CONTACT.