Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Workload; Training / Qualification; Distraction; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors; Procedure
This situation was not a compliance or violation event; but a general information event. During our ground time; both the First Officer (FO) and I were charging our iPads. I remember seeing the charging cord against the circuit breaker (CB) panel behind the FO's seat because of the way I had my iPad seated. I believe that at some point by moving the cord; it inadvertently pulled one of the landing gear CBs. Unfortunately; I did not catch this before I took my seat for pushback. I was the Pilot Flying and right after takeoff; I called for the landing gear up. The FO raised the gear handle but only went to the mid-position. Things got a little busy then. I continued to fly the plane and the FO requested a level off. I was thinking back to the cord next to the CB during our ground time. In the past; I have had a couple of times where the seatbelt shoulder harness had pulled the landing CB and figured out that was what had probably happened to us with the charging cord. We started to run the checklist for Landing Gear Will Not Retract. I looked back and saw that the CB was out. I then pushed the breaker in and directed the FO to retract the gear which did come up at that time. We then continued the climb and proceeded with the flight. Upon arriving; we did notify Maintenance and filled the logbook out with an Info Only write-up since we did reset a CB. We explained to them what had happened and that I was fairly certain that at some point the charging cord must have snagged the CB and pulled it out. In the future I will continue to do a thorough check of the CB panel before I take my seat; especially with the charging cord hanging across the FO panel.
While on the ground; Captain plugged his EFB into recharge cable. At one point; I moved the cable to run behind my seat. Captain unplugged his EFB and I took the cable and rerouted and plugged it into my EFB for a few minutes. Before pushback; I unplugged the charging cable and stowed it. Pushback; engine start; and taxi to the takeoff runway were uneventful.Captain was Pilot Flying. After liftoff; Captain called for landing gear up. Upon moving the handle; it would not go past mid-point and both red and green lights were illuminated for all gear. We agreed to continue initial climb and clean up then work on gear issue once level. Thinking that we would need a little time to consult QRH and troubleshoot; I requested a turn downwind and level off from Tower. They gave us a heading and altitude and then switched us to Departure frequency. At the same time; I was looking for the correct checklist in the QRH. The Captain leveled the aircraft (at assigned altitude of 3000 feet) and engaged the autopilot about the same time I located the 'Landing Gear Lever Will Not Move Up After Takeoff' Checklist in the QRH. Just as I started to read this checklist; the Captain stated that one of the landing gear circuit breakers with a blue collar was out. He also said that he felt it probably got pulled by the EFB charge cord and that he would reset it. Upon reset; he asked me to raise the gear handle and it raised to up position and the gear fully retracted. At that point we agreed that the issue was corrected and we should continue to our filed destination. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. Upon arrival; the Captain called for Maintenance; informed them of what had happened; and documented the circuit breaker reset in the aircraft logbook.Make sure Crews are aware of the hazard of the EFB charging cable pulling a CB and are always checking circuit breakers during/after charging cable use. I read through the 'Landing Gear Lever Will Not Move Up After Takeoff' Checklist. There is no direction to check the status of landing gear system circuit breakers. Why? Perhaps this checklist content should be reviewed and updated.
A B737 Captain charged his iPad during a turnaround preflight and accidently pulled the landing gear control circuit breaker while removing the charging cable. After takeoff when the landing gear did not retract and while completing the QRH; the pulled circuit breaker was reset.