MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Workload; Time Pressure; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Called out to aircraft had several items. Began with nose gear steering problem; removed tow bar steering pin; opened gear doors; [the] other mechanic upstairs turned on hydraulic moved tiller; checked nose gear for proper operation; inspected tires wheels deflectors; all nose gear components; all checks good. Went upstairs to see if anything was felt on tiller became distracted with several interior items and forgot to close doors. Shorthanded; distracted with interior items trying to save boarding time.Needed to stay on job I started. No excuses. Made mistake trying to do too many tasks at once.
Upon gear retraction; the aircraft had a shudder throughout the plane. Gear handle was placed back down and shudder stopped. Accelerated to 200 knots and the shudder returned. Slowed to 170 knots for the remainder of the flight. [Completed the QRH] and landed. Stopped straight ahead until the gear pins could be installed. Taxied to the gate.
A distracted and overworked MD-80 Mechanic forgot to close the nose gear door following a maintenance procedure the previous evening. After takeoff the next morning a severe hydraulic system shudder during gear retraction caused the flight crew to lower the gear and return to the departure airport.