Dash 8-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
We took off and retracted the landing gear normally; without any malfunction.  Upon [nearing] our destination we were cleared for the visual approach.  At about a 6 NM final/~2300ft (I was the PF) I asked the First Officer to lower the landing gear.  I could hear the landing gear sequence being activated but we had no indications on the landing gear position lights.  I asked the First Officer to verify that all the C/B were in and he confirmed they were.  I checked my C/B and they were.  I checked the advisory/caution light with the test switch to verify that all the light bulbs were operative.  All the 9 gear lights were not functioning.  I then asked the First Officer to verify if the alternate landing gear position lights were illuminated; and they were.  Since I had no additional and sure way of knowing that the gear were down and locked I went around and asked the Tower if they could see the gear down; and they confirmed that they were.  They told us to fly to 5000 ft and gave us vectors around the northern side of the airport.  We tried to retract the gear. The sequence seemed to begin (given the noise) but the gear would not retract.  I called for the emergency check list alternate method 1 for any landing gear malfunctions.  We proceeded to extend the gear using this method although they appeared to be down already.  I called the Flight Attendant to have a visual confirmation that the gear were down and she confirmed it.  We accomplished the checklist.  I then declared an emergency and told Approach that we were ready to come back and land.  They vectored us to the approach and cleared us for the visual.  I landed normally although at touchdown when approaching taxiing speed I could not steer with the tiller.  We taxied to the gate and parked as normal.  I called Dispatch and Maintenance for assistance.
DHC8 Captain describes a failure of the landing gear to indicate down after extension during approach.  When tested; all nine gear indicator lights are inoperative and a go around is initiated.  When selected up the landing gear do not retract and an emergency is declared.  The landing gear is extended using an emergency method and confirmed down visually and via alternate position indicating lights.  After landing nose wheel steering is found to be inoperative.