A321
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
On approach at 2;000 FT MSL I called for gear down. The First Officer (pilot not flying) placed the landing gear handle to the down position. We observed three red UNLK indications accompanied with an ECAM message of LANDING GEAR (L/G) GEAR NOT DOWN LOCKED and heard no noise that occurs when the landing gear comes down. We told Tower that we needed to break off the approach and go out away from the field to work on a problem with the landing gear. They had us proceed out to the west and gave us vectors in a large box pattern. I gave control of the aircraft and radios to the pilot not flying. Then pulled out the QRH; Went to Immediate Actions/ECAM Exceptions Index and found the L/G GEAR NOT DOWN LOCKED under the Exceptions portion. I ran the procedure per SOP's and the QRH. Called the company on the radio and had a phone patch set up with my Dispatcher and Maintenance Control. Discussed problem with them and determined that the only course of action was to apply the L/G Gravity Extension Checklist. The Flight attendants were notified what we were doing and to expect a normal landing. I performed the procedure and extended the landing gear. Once we had the gear down and locked we proceeded to fly the approach and made a normal landing and taxied clear of the runway. Maintenance pinned the landing gear and towed us to our gate. Failure of the Landing Gear Control (L/G CTL).
A321 Captain experiences three red UNLK indications accompanied with an ECAM msg of L/G GEAR NOT DOWN LOCKED when the landing gear is selected down during approach. After consulting with Maintenance the landing gear is extended using the gravity extension method and a normal landing ensues.