Date: 201402
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737-700
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Gear Lever/Selector
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Technician
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Fatigue
Second reporter function: Technician
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I and another Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) were performing a Right-1 (R-1) Windshield Removal and Replacement (R/R).  I was performing the outside work and the other AMT was removing Flight Deck components to facilitate the Maintenance. During the removal; he mentioned that a fastener was not installed in one position supporting the glareshield. We continued the window removal and proceeded to finish the job.  During the reinstallation; another fastener was obtained and installed for the missing part. The aircraft departed and returned to ZZZ when the crew could not retract the landing gears. Maintenance was called and a bolt was caught in the gear handle. If a job is started; and hardware pertinent to the job is missing prior to your work; a thorough search should be conducted nonetheless. Graveshift. Line Routine Overnight.


Second narrative: I was taking apart the glareshield for the Right-1 (R-1) window replacement. As I was pulling out the Mode Control Panel (MCP); I heard something fall behind the instruments. I proceeded with the removal. Later; I found that one of the glareshield mount bolts was not installed. I looked behind the glareshield to see if I could find it; thinking that is what I heard fall. After searching awhile; I found a screw from the ceiling trim behind one of the Display Unit's (DUs).  I figured that is what I heard so I continued with the window change. I told my partner that one of the mount bolts was not installed and I had to go get one from Stores. I came back. We finished the window. The aircraft left the next day when I was off-shift.  It made an air return for the Landing Gear Handle not going up; so the gear would not retract. The mount bolt that was missing was found down in the handle mechanism for the landing gear [lever] and that is what must have fallen from somewhere when I was taking the glareshield apart. I had not dropped the hardware myself and was not missing anything other than that bolt that was not installed when I opened it up for removal. Graveyard Shift. Not on overtime.


Synopsis: Two Line Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) report about an air turn back of a company B737-700 aircraft due to the Landing Gear Handle would not move to the 'Up' position after takeoff. A previously missing mount bolt for the forward glareshield was found in the handle mechanism preventing movement of the lever.