Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction; Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Aircraft
It was a long flight as we had a long route due to weather right down the middle of the country. As we were descending into our destination airspace we had the airport in sight. I believe we were cleared for the visual approach to the runway. I remember passing through 1;000 FT and I believe it was around 850 FT AGL that we both heard the EGPWS say 'TOO LOW; GEAR.' We both looked at the EICAS and confirmed the landing gear was showing three green. A few seconds later we heard the EGPWS again say 'TOO LOW; GEAR.' At that point neither one of us was comfortable continuing the approach so we decided to do a go-around. We flew runway heading and climbed to 2;000 FT (I think). I told the Tower that we were going around for a gear indication problem. We believed it was not a gear problem; but maybe a computer problem with the EGPWS. We were given vectors for a downwind and I pulled out the book to look for any procedure. Tower asked if we were declaring an emergency and I told them 'not at this time'. My co-pilot and I came to the conclusion that because we got no EICAS messages about the gear not being down and the aural warning was from the EGPWS system we decided to do another visual approach. I discussed with my co-pilot that we would do everything the same and if we got the aural warning again with the gear being down and locked on the EICAS that we would level off at about 1;000 FT AGL and just ask the Tower if they could see that all three of our gear were down. On the second approach everything was normal just as it was on the first approach; with no aural warnings on the second approach. We landed with no problems. No assistance was required. Called Maintenance Control after we were blocked in; and they agreed that it was a computer malfunction. At no point did we ever get any EICAS messages about gear disagree.
An EMB-145 EGPWS issued a 'TOO LOW GEAR' alert at about 850 FT on approach with the gear indicating down and locked with no EICAS messages; so a go around was executed and on the second approach the warning did not alert.