Date: 201601
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZZ
Aircraft component: Nose Gear Door
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Confusion; Distraction
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Following gear retraction on climb out from ZZZZ; we experience unusual vibration and excessive noise coming from the nose wheel well. The Captain (CA) directed a level off at 10000 feet. Following a discussion the decision was made to cycle the gear. With gear extended; the issue subsided; only to return as the gear was retracted. We notified ATC of our issue and following a discussion and crew inputs; the decision was made to return to ZZZZ. The CA assigned/delegated duties and while established in holding informed Dispatch; accomplished applicable checklists and advised the Flight Attendants (FA) and passengers of our situation. The CA then flew an ILS and executed an uneventful landing. Upon clearing; we requested an inspection from Crash Fire Rescue Equipment (CFR) and were advised that there appeared to be no damage. We monitored brake temps and returned to the gate where Maintenance very quickly ascertained that the rod connecting the gear to the gear door had failed and was no longer attached.


Second narrative: Just after takeoff with landing gear being retracted high pitch loud noise and vibration was felt we continue to climb to 10;000 feet It was very difficult to hear and her stand ATC communications due to the noise leaving 7000 feet we put the gear down and that helped with the noise situation. [Advised ATC] and Requested to go on a holding pattern to burn some fuel due to the aircraft wait. We run all the checklist briefed the subsequent approach into ZZZZ including the overweight landing checklist because we decided to go back and landed 13;000 pounds overweight. The landing was normal and uneventful. It was verified by the Fire fighters that there was no damage to the airplane and only then we decided to proceed to the gate. The mechanics informed us that the left forward nose landing gear door rod was broken and it was hanging there for creating a lot of vibration due to the unsecured door.


Synopsis: B767 flight crew experienced an unusual vibration and excessive noise coming from the nosewheel area after gear retraction. They returned to departure airport where Maintenance determined that the connecting rod from nose landing gear to the nose gear door was disconnected.