Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure
During the preflight logbook inspection it was discovered there had been a gear problem; the aircraft was ferried; fixed; and not test flown. Our briefing included to be aware that the gear might still have a problem. We took off and the nose gear failed to retract. We called ATC and got vectors to run the checklist. At the completion of the checklist; I declared an emergency; did a low pass on the runway; and then landed. During the takeoff; Tower advised that our nose gear appeared half retracted. During the low pass; Tower and an airline crew said our gear appeared to be down; so we stayed in the pattern and landed visually. ALWAYS test fly an aircraft after a landing gear incident/fix before operating a revenue flight.
DHC8 Captain reports accepting an aircraft that had been ferried for maintenance after a gear malfunction. The nose gear does not retract after takeoff and the flight returns to the departure airport.