The green indicator light for the front wheel didn't light up. There was a possibility that the light indicator was defective. They talked about testing and shaking the light fixture (hoping that it would work).
The Captain confirmed to the air traffic controller that they (having aborted the landing )were climbing to 2000 feet.
(for clarity , please ignore text colored GREY)
Flight Engineer: You want me to test the lights or not? (the wheel down indicator lights) Captain: Yeah. xxxx ? * * seat back Captain: Check it Co-pilot: Uh, Bob, it might be the light. Could you jiggle tha, the light? (asking the Captain to shake the "wheel down" indicator light) Flight Engineer: It's gotta, gotta come out a little bit and then snap in xxxx ? * * xxxx ? I'll put 'em on 34:21 Captain to air traffic controller: Okay, going up to two thousand (climbing to 2000 feet), one twenty-eight six
The switch that lowers the wheels ( "landing gear" ) has a small wheel attached to it to remind pilots of its function. The switch in this picture is in the "DOWN" position. The two green lights below the switch indicate that the two wheels at the back of the aircraft are reliably down. Unfortunately , in Flight 401 ( as this photo simulates) the middle light did not light up. The front wheel may be stuck and not going down, or perhaps the indicating system was faulty. The switch and wheel indicator lights are nearest to the co-pilot (right hand seat).
