B727 DEPARTS WITH 3 GEAR PINS INSTALLED.

Narrative

I WAS SCHEDULED TO FLY MSP-DFW. THIS WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL ACFT SCHEDULED TO FLY THIS RTE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE ORIGINAL ACFT WAS LATE OR THE REASON FOR THE SWAP. WHEN I GOT TO THE ACFT TO START A PREFLT; THERE WERE MECHS WORKING ALL AROUND THE ACFT. I DID A NORMAL PREFLT WHICH TAKES ME ABOUT 10-15 MINS. MY PREFLT TAKES ME TO THE NOSE AND THEN TO THE NOSE GEAR. THE NOSE GEAR IS SLIGHTLY DIFFICULT TO SEE; BUT I MAKE IT A POINT TO GET IN A POS BEHIND THE GEAR TO SEE UP AND BACK IN THE GEAR COMPARTMENT. AFTER CHKING TO FORWARD R SIDE OF THE ACFT; I MOVE DOWN THE LEADING EDGE OF THE R WING TO THE AFT EDGE TO THE AFT OF THE MAIN GEAR. MOVING COUNTERCLOCKWISE AROUND THE GEAR TO THE APU WELL AND LOOKING AT THE 'APPLE' POS. I THEN LOOK AT THE RETRACTION ARM THAT WOULD HOLD THE GEAR PIN. I SAW NO PIN. I PHYSICALLY HAVE TO DUCK TO GO BENEATH THE RETRACTION ARM SO I DON'T HIT MY HEAD. AFTER COMPLETING THE AFT SECTION OF THE ACFT; I'M AT THE L MAIN AND I APCH THE GEAR THE SAME AS BEFORE; ONLY IN REVERSE ORDER; DUCKING UNDER THE RETRACTION ARM AND GOING TO THE APU WELL 'APPLE;' AND SO FORTH. AGAIN; I SAW NO GEAR PINS. AFTER THE EXTERIOR PREFLT AND GETTING BACK TO THE COCKPIT; MAINT IS STILL WORKING ON THE ACFT. THE ACFT LOGBOOK HAD WRITTEN UP THAT THE GEAR PINS WERE INSTALLED AND REMOVED. AFTER OUR RETURN LNDG AT MSP; THE MAINT PERSONNEL REMOVED THE PINS AND CAME INTO THE COCKPIT AND LOOKED SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSED BY THE ENTIRE ORDEAL. I DON'T REMEMBER IF HE MADE A LOG ENTRY OR NOT. WE REFUELED AND RECEIVED A NEW RELEASE; AND WERE ON OUR WAY.