MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Captain's Takeoff of an MD11. After takeoff on initial climb out; First Officer was unable to lift the gear handle up. We leveled off at 5000 ft/220 kts; accomplished the after takeoff checklist and informed ATC of our problem. I continued to fly the airplane and work the radios while the first officer accomplished QRH procedure 'Gear Handle Will Not Move to Up Position'. It did not fix the problem. Gear handle would still not lift up. At this point; we called our jumpseat pilot up to the cockpit to back us up on the checklists/radios and we contacted Maintenance at ZZZ and Dispatch through ACARS. While evaluating the landing data and our divert options; we received a Master Caution light with a Level 2 HYD 1 FAIL Alert. We looked at the hydraulic synoptic page and noticed we had lost all fluid from the #1 Hydraulic reservoir. We [advised] ATC and accomplished the QRH procedure 'HYD 1 FAIL'. After completing this checklist; we determined it would be best to return back to ZZZ and that it was a safe option at our current gross weight (approximately 360;000 lbs). We notified Dispatch that we were returning back to ZZZ and asked ATC for radar vectors to the ILS. We did not have to dump fuel and we planned for a Flap 35 approach using no auto brakes as per the QRH. We ran all the normal checklists; in range; approach; and before landing checklists. Landed uneventfully and made a right turn off onto the taxiway where we stopped; ran the after landing checklist and had the emergency personnel check out the gear and around our airplane. Once they completed their inspection; we requested our maintenance personnel to tug us into the ramp from our stopped position on the taxiway. After deplaning the airplane; ZZZ maintenance informed/showed us that we actually had two separate problems. 1) The left main gear trim system cylinder had ruptured (come apart) on takeoff when we tried to raise the gear and prevented us from raising the gear. 2) A hydraulic line to the left nose wheel steering piston was broken/sheared and had leaked out all the #1 system fluid.Our Maintenance personnel may need to observe and confirm that the work performed by Contract Maintenance was done correctly and that the systems that are worked on are tested multiple times before flight.
MD-11 Captain reported they were unable to raise the gear after takeoff. Postflight inspection revealed the left main gear trim cylinder ruptured and a hydraulic line to the left nose wheel steering failed.