Date: 201604
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Dash 8-100
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Nose Gear
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: After rotation and positive rate was called; 'gear up' was called and the gear handle selected up. At 350 ft AGL; an excessive rattle was felt and heard in the nose gear area with red nose gear unsafe light remaining illuminated. At 800 ft AGL; the crew cycled the gear handle down; three green gear safe lights and no amber door lights indicated. The crew then attempted to retract the gear a second time with the same indications as before to include the noise and shaking. Next; the crew then selected the gear selector down and three green gear safe lights illuminated with no amber door lights. ATC was advised of the issue; crew was given a clearance maintain 3000; radar vectors returning back to ZZZ; per crew request. Landing gear malfunction checklist was called for. While in the course of running the checklist; a lesser rattle continued to be felt in the rudder pedals. 138 knots was maintained throughout climb and level flight. Upon reading checklist heading; 'All landing gear fail to retract'; it was determined that it was the inappropriate checklist; then; correct checklist 'illumination of red landing gear unsafe light(s)' was identified. Aircraft was 5 miles northwest of the airport on a right downwind at 3000 ft. FO was delegated to communicate with the FA and company; CA (Flying Pilot) assumed ATC communications. ATC queried for necessity of alert for fire equipment and advised a normal landing with standby only equipment required. FO contacted FA; and advised on the type of situation; returning back to the field; no need to brace. Also; the FO spoke with the passengers and advised that a return back to the field was needed due to a gear indication in the cockpit.Once communication with cabin and ground equipment was completed; CA advised a rattle feeling in the rudder pedals and asked for confirmation from the FO and elected to begin normal landing procedures; no emergency was declared.  Normal landing was accomplished; from a 10 mile final with appropriate callouts and checklists. At no time during final approach did airspeed exceed 148 kts. Upon landing; crew advised ATC that they would need a few moments on the runway to assess the situation. After a complete stop; CA determined the aircraft safe to taxi clear of the active runway and return to the gate.


Second narrative: [Report narrative contained no additional information.]


Synopsis: Dash 8 flight crew reported returning to the departure airport after experiencing a landing gear malfunction upon gear retraction.