B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 163; Flight Crew Type 610
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Aircraft
After gear extension while on approach we did not get a green nose gear light on either the front or overhead panels. We executed a go around; climbed to 4000 FT and accelerated to 220 knots. I sent dispatch a note to call with Maintenance Control. We tested all lights with switch and press to test but both nose gear lights did not illuminate. We also looked for a checklist but did not find one that was applicable to our situation. During that time my FO spoke with the FAs and shortly after I made a PA to the passengers. It was my leg so I continued to fly and talk to ATC while my FO spoke with Dispatch and Maintenance Control. During that time I selected a new runway in the FMC and dialed in the new ILS frequencies. After relaying all to Maintenance Control he asked us to cycle the gear down and check again. After second gear extension we had a green nose gear light on overhead panel but not on forward panel. With concurrence from Maintenance Control we elected to leave the gear down and return for landing. After turning back I swapped controls with my FO. I briefed that I had set us up for Runway XX prior to knowing whether we'd have a nose gear. He told me we had one more call coming through. I spoke with the FA's and made a 2nd PA letting the passenger know our gear indication was back to normal and we were coming back for a normal landing. I was not aware but someone had requested the Chief Pilot be brought in. By then I was on the conference call so I tried to quickly update him on the situation and terminate the call. While being vectored back my FO was able to change one of two forward nose gear bulbs which then became halfway illuminated. Although the overhead panel green nose gear light was sufficient we were now back to two green nose gear lights. Approach told my FO we'd be on Runway XXR so with normal indications he continued to our original planned runway. He had just been cleared on a heading to intercept for the visual when I got back with him. He had reselected Runway XXR in the box but did not remember to reselect the Runway XXR frequency so he initially intercepted the Runway XXL localizer. Approach queried him and gave us a new heading just as we caught the discrepancy. We then transferred controls; got switched to tower; cleared to land and I continued in for a normal landing to Runway XXR.
Swapped duties and I got vectors while ATC got an actual runway assignment for us. Captain reviewed checklist for nonstd; nonnormal; talked to the Chief Pilot and monitored vectors to final. ATC assigned Runway XXR; turned 23 mile final; given 060 heading to intercept. Reset runway to Runway XXR in FMC for visual; with ILS backup; but I forgot to reset freq. Cleared for visual approach; armed APP mode; and started turn to final; ATC immediately recognized we were lining up on the wrong runway and vectored us left over to Runway XXR; we reset ILS frequency and landed uneventfully with 3600 lbs.
A B737 nose gear forward green and overhead down and locked lights did not illuminate with the gear down. After recycling the gear the overhead light illuminated. The forward green light illuminated following a bulb change.