Cessna 404 Titan
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 1375; Flight Crew Type 25
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure
After departure the landing gear failed to retract. Red gear unlocked annunciator illuminated and the right main gear locked (green) light remained on. After a period of about 15 seconds; during which the nose gear was observed down and not moving in the mirror; I reset the landing gear lever and all three green lights indicated down and locked. After 2 more unsuccessful attempts to retract the landing gear; I notified ZZZ Departure control of the issue and requested a return to the departure airport. The rest of the flight was uneventful with vectors to a landing. After landing; the Mechanic inspecting the aircraft identified the problem from the nitrogen emergency gear extension bottle. The bottle did not reset properly during servicing and impeded the operation of the hydraulic landing gear system.
A C404's emergency landing gear extension nitrogen bottle did not reset properly after servicing which prevented the landing gear from retracting after takeoff so the pilot returned to land.