Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
Upon arrival; there was a major leakage of hydraulic fluid on the nose landing gear. Maintenance was called; the course of action was to pin the landing gear down; and return to ZZZ. After in-depth conversations with Maintenance Control; the Captain determined that the aircraft was airworthy; and legal to operate a revenue flight back to ZZZ. The captain talked to the dispatcher about the deferral; and the need for more fuel because we would by flying back to ZZZ with the gear pinned down for the entire duration of the flight. The dispatcher added the deferrals to the dispatch release; and told the captain that with the gear down deferral; the new fuel burn would be accounted for. Once in cruise flight; we determined that the planned fuel was very inaccurate compared to the actual fuel burn. We were near critical fuel upon landing.The threat was the unplanned fuel burn that resulted in a landing fuel load that made the captain and I uncomfortable.As a result of this event; a more meticulous examination of the flight plan to ensure that the performance results of the deferrals are more accurately reflected in the flight plan.
CRJ-200 First Officer reported flying the aircraft with the gear pinned down and arriving with less fuel than planned; noting that the burn rate was higher than planned for.