EA32 CREW HAD LNDG GEAR PROBS WHEN THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED AFTER TKOF.

Narrative

AFTER TKOF; GEAR RETRACTION PROB WITH A LOUD BANG AND VIBRATION. ATC WAS ADVISED THAT WE NEEDED TO TALK TO MAINT FOR FURTHER INFO ON ACFT STATUS. THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WANTED TO STAY LOWER THAN THE INITIAL CLRNC TO 5000 FT. WE ACCEPTED 3000 FT WHILE PASSING THROUGH 2700 FT. THE ALT OF 3000 FT WAS SET IN THE FLT CTL UNIT AND THE AUTOPLT ENGAGED. THE FO CONTACTED MAINT ON THE OTHER RADIO. CONCERNED WITH THE VIBRATION; I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE SPD WITHIN THE FLAP PARAMETER. UNNOTICED; THE FLT GUIDANCE WENT INTO VERT SPD AND FAILED TO CAPTURE THE ALT. THE AURAL WARNING WAS DISABLED DUE TO AUTOPLT ENGAGEMENT. ATC ASKED ABOUT OUR ALT WHILE CLBING THROUGH 3650 FT. I ASKED FOR 4000 FT AND LEVELED OFF. WHILE IN A HOLDING PATTERN WE DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO OUR DEP ARPT FOR A SUCCESSFUL EMER OVERWT LNDG. I REALIZE THAT I HURRIED TOO MUCH IN MY PREOCCUPATION WITH THE PROB; AND DEPENDED ON THE AUTOFLT SYS; WITHOUT PROPER MONITORING OF PERFORMANCE. DISTRS REQUIRE EXTRA VIGILANCE TO AVOID COMPROMISING ACFT GUIDANCE. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE 4TH DAY OF A PAIRING INVOLVING 3 BACK-OF-THE-CLOCK DUTY PERIODS.