Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 252
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Upon landing gear extension; a loud bang was heard in the nose wheel compartment. We suspected some major malfunction or damage so we configured the aircraft normally for landing but requested a low altitude (500 FT) flyby to have the Tower inspect the nose gear for damage. We had three green down and locked and no indication of hydraulic fluid loss. We flew the aircraft by the Tower and performed a normal go-around but left the landing gear down. We flew a right downwind visual approach and reconfigured for a normal landing with flaps 30. We discussed the situation between ourselves and had no reason to suspect anything but a normal landing; so communication with the flight attendants was curtailed due to time constraints. Particular attention was made to the nose wheel touchdown rate and touchdown ultimately was slow and soft. Taxi to the gate was normal. Upon reaching the gate; the next crew was in place to perform the preflight inspection; which resulted in observing large quantity of fluid coming from nose wheel area.
Upon gear extension; there was a loud bang in the nose wheel compartment. After a slight delay; we got three green indications. There were no abnormal lights or any other indications of a malfunction. The Captain and I discussed probable causes and decided to do a low level Tower fly by to make sure there wasn't any visible evidence of a malfunction of the gear. The Tower reported that everything appeared to be normal. We made a close in right pattern and the landing was normal and uneventful. After parking at the gate; the post flight inspection revealed a significant amount of hydraulic fluid under the nose wheel.
B737-300 flight crew reports a loud bang from the nose gear area when the landing gear is extended but no other anomalies are exhibited. After a Tower fly by a normal landing ensues with taxi to the gate. Post flight reveals a hydraulic leak in the nose gear area.