After takeoff G200 flight crew discovers the nose gear will not retract and returns to departure airport. Post flight inspection reveals a short bolt has been used for a gear pin; with no flag and protruding only from one side.
Synopsis
After takeoff G200 flight crew discovers the nose gear will not retract and returns to departure airport. Post flight inspection reveals a short bolt has been used for a gear pin; with no flag and protruding only from one side.
Narrative
I was assigned Second In Command duties this week and began my day by tending to inside the cabin preparation; including updating charts and on-board amenities. Everything was going pretty much as normal until takeoff when I called for gear up. I was the pilot flying. I knew something was wrong as the wind noise was unusually loud when I noticed the nose gear had not retracted. I continued to maintain hand flying control; while simultaneously reducing power to maintain our maximum gear speed of 195 KTS. The Captain performed the 'gear will not retract' checklist. We determined to leave the landing gear extended and return for landing. We were taken off the SID and cleared for landing uneventfully. After landing and disembarking our sole passenger the Captain showed me the cause of the gear problem. Sticking out only on the right side of the nose gear hole was what looked like a cotter pin; or bolt like piece of hardware that appeared to be used as a gear pin.1) Whoever decides to install a gear pin must remove it after [when appropriate]. Never leave a gear pin in place when its use is no longer required. 2) High visibility pins with flags are the only acceptable gear pin to use. 3) Fully insert a gear pin all the way through its hole.
Second reporter narrative
After preflighting the aircraft we taxied out and took off. After the gear handle was retracted the main gear came up but the nose gear stayed down. We ran the emergency check list for the gear retraction. When the nose gear would not come up; we put the gear back down and returned for landing. On my post flight I found a bolt sticking only in the right side nose gear pin hole. It had no flag or handle on it like the aircraft gear pins. When looking up into the left side of the nose gear well you could see the left pin hole clear with out seeing the pin sticking out of the right side pin hole. It must have been put in by a vendor or service center. Using only aircraft model type specific gear pins with flags would have avoided this occurrence and would prevent it from happening again.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.