MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
Departed approximately 1 hour late in icing. Deiced and then immediately took off. Takeoff was normal except airspeed stagnated for approximately 3 seconds at V1 + 2 knots. After takeoff gear handle was raised resulting in a steady red nose gear annunciator light accompanied by excessive wind noise under the cockpit. It was clear to us there was a problem with the nose gear. The flight attendants in the cabin could also hear this noise; it was that loud. There were additional annunciator lights indicating multiple abnormalities. These included 1) a SIF (Stall Indication Failure) light; 2) an AUTO SPOILER DO NOT USE light; and 3) the aircraft not pressurizing (Cabin ALT control lever in AUTO (UP) position with STANDBY ON and TRANSFER LOCKOUT lights illuminated. Confirmed aircraft was in the flight mode with strobes. Advised Departure of our difficulty and requested vectors/min safe altitude to execute the appropriate checklists; etc. Executed Red Light Illuminated with Landing Gear Handle Up QRH checklist. With gear handle down; observed 3 green gear annunciator lights. Suspected nose gear damage and did not cycle gear as per checklist. Executed AUTO SPOILER DO NOT USE QRH checklist. Cycled pressurization controller and regained aircraft pressurization. Declared emergency with Center (did not use code 7700 per their request); called (Dispatch); called Maintenance to check gear after landing; advised FA's; made reassuring PA to passengers; burned down to max landing weight per dispatch/maintenance request. Checked RW Limited Landing weight tables and applied anti-skid braking consistent with runway conditions (dry/good). Made a routine 40/ext; spoiler lever disarmed/no auto brakes landing; below max landing weight and stopped on the runway. Advised passenger to remain seated/follow flight attendant instructions; ARFF confirmed no nose gear damage (nose gear remained down and locked).
MD-80 Captain reports the nose landing gear failing to retract properly after takeoff producing numerous secondary warnings and anomalies. QRH procedures for the landing gear and spoiler are complied with; fuel was burned down to max landing weight before landing. The aircraft was deiced just prior to takeoff.