A320 FLIGHT CREW REPORTS LANDING GEAR FAILURE TO RETRACT AFTER TAKEOFF AND ECAM MESSAGE; LANDING GEAR SHOCK ABSORBER FAULT.

Narrative

WE HAD A NORMAL TAXI OUT ON 2 ENGINES AND A NORMAL TAKEOFF ROLL. BUT AFTER RAISING THE GEAR LEVER; WE RECEIVED A NOSE STRUT SHOCK ABSORBER FAULT ECAM ALONG WITH A LANDING GEAR SYSTEM DISAGREEMENT ECAM. THE LANDING GEAR PANEL AND THE ECAM WHEELS PAGE SHOWED THE NOSE GEAR WAS STILL DOWN AND THE NOSE GEAR DOORS WERE OPEN. VIBRATION ON THE AIRPLANE AND WIND NOISE CONFIRMED THE SAME. WE ALSO RECEIVED AN ANTI-ICE LEFT WINDSHIELD ECAM. THE FIRST OFFICER CONTINUED TO FLY AND I HAD HIM TAKE THE RADIOS AFTER I ADVISED ATC WHAT OUR ISSUE WAS AND THAT WE WOULD NEED DELAY VECTORS TO WORK THE PROBLEM. IT WAS DAY VFR WITH TERRAIN IN SIGHT. I FOLLOWED THE APPROPRIATE CHECKLISTS AND CONSULTED THE FLIGHT MANUAL. LANDING GEAR AND DOOR INDICATIONS AS WELL AS AIRCRAFT NOISE AND FEEL WERE NORMAL AFTER GEAR EXTENSION. WE THEN SPOKE WITH ATC AND DISPATCH TO COORDINATE A RETURN TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE; AS THE LANDING GEAR SHOCK ABSORBER FAULT CHECKLIST DIRECTED. NO EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED. I THEN ADVISED THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND PASSENGERS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING. I RESUMED RADIO WORK AND WE LANDED WITHOUT EVENT. WE MADE ALL APPROPRIATE WRITE-UPS AFTER BLOCK-IN AT THE GATE AND SPOKE TO MAINTENANCE. AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE. AS A SIDE NOTE; IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE WRITE-UPS IN AFTER BLOCK-IN AS WE WERE BESIEGED WITH INTERRUPTIONS FROM PERSONNEL ADVISING US OF WHO WE NEEDED TO CONTACT. I THINK NEXT TIME I WILL JUST LEAVE THE COCKPIT DOOR CLOSED UNTIL WE HAVE COMPLETED EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE IS NECESSARY BEFORE OPENING US UP TO THE COMMUNICATION CHAIN.