A DC9 WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE NOSE LNDG GEAR DOORS UNLOCKED CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE CONTRACT MECH TO CLOSE AFTER A FUEL QUANTITY CHK.

Narrative

ZZZ ARPT CONTRACT MAINT WAS CALLED TO VERIFY FUEL QUANTITY IN R MAIN TANK PRIOR TO DEP. TO DO THIS; THE NOSE GEAR DOORS MUST BE OPENED AND A READING FROM AN INCLINOMETER MUST BE TAKEN TO GET AN ACCURATE READING AFTER 'STICKING' THE FUEL TANK. ON DEP; THE NOSE GEAR FAILED TO GIVE AN 'UP AND LOCKED' INDICATION AND A LOUD VIBRATION (NOISE) ACCOMPANIED THE UNSAFE INDICATION. THE GEAR WAS LOWERED AND THE GEAR INDICATED DOWN AND LOCKED AND THE NOISE SUBSIDED. AGAIN; THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED WITH THE SAME UNSAFE INDICATION RESULTING WITH THE NOSEWHEEL. THE GEAR WAS THEN LOWERED WITH INITIAL INDICATION OF ONLY THE MAIN GEAR BEING DOWN AND LOCKED. EVENTUALLY; THE NOSE GEAR INDICATED DOWN AND LOCKED AND THE VIBRATION SUBSIDED. DIVERTED TO LAX WHERE MAINT FOUND THE NOSE GEAR DOORS TO BE UNLATCHED. APPARENTLY THE CONTRACT MAINT AT ZZZ HAD FAILED TO LOCK THEM BACK INTO THE UP POS AFTER VERIFYING THE FUEL LOAD. THE PUSHBACK CREW AT ZZZ ALSO MISSED THIS WHEN ASKED PRIOR TO DISCONNECT IF ALL PANELS AND DOORS WERE SECURE; AT WHICH TIME THEY RESPONDED 'YES.'