AN A320 ECAM ALERTED A LANDING GEAR SHOCK ABSORBER FAULT AND THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER TAKEOFF. THE CREW RETURNED TO LAND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH MAINTENANCE.

Narrative

AFTER TAKEOFF; SELECTED LANDING GEAR UP. RECEIVED LANDING GEAR SHOCK ABSORBED FAULT ECAM AND NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT. FOLLOWED ECAM AND EXTENDED LANDING GEAR. CALLED MAINTENANCE AND DISPATCH ON ACARS AFTER DISCUSSION AND PREVIOUS HISTORY OF THIS AIRCRAFT ELECTED TO LEAVE GEAR DOWN AND RETURN TO ZZZ DID NOT PREPARE THE CABIN. ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. LANDED UNEVENTFULLY IN ZZZ. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT THIS AIRCRAFT ARRIVED WITH THE SAME ECAM FAULT ANNUNCIATED ON THE PREVIOUS LANDING. MAINTENANCE WORKED ON THE AIRCRAFT AND IT WAS RELEASED TO THE REPORTER FOR CONTINUED FLIGHT. ONCE THE FAULT OCCURRED IN-FLIGHT MAINTENANCE WAS CONTACTED AND THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WANTED THE REPORTER TO USE HIS EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO RECYCLE THE LGCIU CIRCUIT BREAKER AND ATTEMPT TO RAISE THE GEAR. THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS LOCKED IN THE DOWN POSITION AFTER THE GEAR WAS CYCLED DOWN DURING THE FIRST QRH PROCEDURE. RESETTING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS NECESSARY TO RESET THE FAULT AND RELEASE THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE. THE REPORTER REFUSED TO FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST AND RETURNED TO LAND. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE REPORTER CHECKED THAT AIRCRAFT'S MAINTENANCE HISTORY AND DISCOVERED THAT IT REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR TWO DAYS. ON TAKEOFF AFTER IT WAS RELEASED FOR FLIGHT AGAIN; THE FAULT REOCCURRED ON THE FIRST TAKEOFF.