2011-05 · NASA ASRS report 950377
An MD11 was dispatched with the center landing gear deferred in the up position due to an indicator problem. Upon extending landing flaps at the destination the landing gear warning horn alerted due to a primary center gear red light illuminated. The flight crew questioned whether the proper deferral procedure was utilized.
Prior to departure we had a center gear primary down and locked indicator light show red. Maintenance troubleshot the system and found they did not have parts to fix the aircraft. We were below the maximum weight for an operation with the center gear retracted MEL. Maintenance complied with the deferral procedure which included a visual inspection of the center gear to verify that it was up and locked. Before departure we discussed the fact that the center gear light was still red. We were told that the synoptic display showed no indication with the center gear switch in the UP position and the red center gear light indication was also isolated from the warning system. During the flight we checked the systems manual and found that the center gear primary gear indication was still valid with the center gear switch in the UP position. Sure enough; when we descended below 100 AGL on approach; we got an oral landing gear warning. We showed all green on the other gear and the center gear had been verified up and locked before takeoff. I decided to land with the warning. Landing was uneventful. The center gear light needs to be addressed in the MEL for operations with the center gear retracted.
On our previous flight the primary indicator for our center gear would intermittently flash red/unsafe and then return to green. The item was written up in the logbook and addressed by Maintenance. All gear indications were normal until the final moments of taxiing into the ramp where; once again; the primary center gear indicator indicated red/unsafe. This time; the illumination was steady.However; as we departed under this MEL; I also noticed the primary center gear indicator was still indicating 'red/unsafe;' and continued to indicate 'red/unsafe' throughout the remainder of the flight. So this raised the question in my mind - which 'light'; exactly; is supposed to be illuminated? If the primary center gear indicator light was supposed to extinguish when the gear was retracted by MTC; then did we defer the wrong item? Or; having retracted/bypassed the center landing gear (effectively rendering it useless to the flight crew); may this unsafe indication be disregarded? If so; why isn't there a note or comment stating this in the MEL? It is not normal for pilots to intentionally disregard an unsafe gear indication...
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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