PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040
Flight Crew Commercial
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
Departed; retracted landing gear; transit light stayed lit and handle never returned to Up Neutral position. Nacelle mirror verified that the nose gear was only midway up. Tried recycling gear but it didn't lock down either. Put handle back up; reported to ATC 'gear wouldn't retract and returning to land'. On downwind for the approach (IMC) I used the checklist to perform 'Emergency Gear Extension'. Three green indicated; reported this to ATC and landed without further event. Post flight revealed a simple mechanical failure of nose gear actuator.
PA31 pilot reports failure of the nose gear to retract after takeoff and also to extend to the down and safe position. The flight returns to the departure airport and the 'Emergency Gear Extension' checklist is employed to successfully extend the nose gear prior to landing.