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A Q400 crew detected a hydraulic system quantity at 30% and transfered fluid to equalize both systems at 50% then learned later in that day the aircraft suffered a hydraulic system failure.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1116917 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201309 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Dash 8-400 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Hydraulic System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Flying |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
When I received the aircraft; the #1 hydraulic system was at 30%. I contacted maintenance control and asked if I needed to enter that into the maintenance log; or if I was permitted to simply pushback; and then follow the supplemental procedure to transfer hydraulic fluid. Maintenance control responded that I was allowed to simply depart; and accomplish the procedure to get the hydraulic quantity above 40% prior to taking off. Which is ultimately what we did: pushbacked; and then once the engines were running we balanced the hydraulic quantity. We were only able to get both sides to 50%; so the aircraft was lower on hydraulic fluid than is typical for the fleet; but is well within the limitations. Our next two legs were completely uneventful in the aircraft. Later in the day; I heard that aircraft had experienced a hydraulic failure; and I can't help but wonder if my failure to enter the imbalance into the maintenance log might have masked the impending failure.if something might indicate an impending failure; the QRH or supplemental procedure should include specific instruction to enter it into the maintenance log; so that maintenance can track such issues.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A Q400 crew detected a hydraulic system quantity at 30% and transfered fluid to equalize both systems at 50% then learned later in that day the aircraft suffered a hydraulic system failure.
Narrative: When I received the aircraft; the #1 Hydraulic System was at 30%. I contacted Maintenance Control and asked if I needed to enter that into the maintenance log; or if I was permitted to simply pushback; and then follow the supplemental procedure to transfer hydraulic fluid. Maintenance Control responded that I was allowed to simply depart; and accomplish the procedure to get the hydraulic quantity above 40% prior to taking off. Which is ultimately what we did: pushbacked; and then once the engines were running we balanced the hydraulic quantity. We were only able to get both sides to 50%; so the aircraft was lower on hydraulic fluid than is typical for the fleet; but is well within the limitations. Our next two legs were completely uneventful in the aircraft. Later in the day; I heard that aircraft had experienced a hydraulic failure; and I can't help but wonder if my failure to enter the imbalance into the maintenance log might have masked the impending failure.If something might indicate an impending failure; the QRH or supplemental procedure should include specific instruction to enter it into the maintenance log; so that Maintenance can track such issues.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.