Narrative:

Aircraft had just been prepped for a ferry flight by maintenance for a leak in the right main gear actuator. The mechanics followed the authorized procedure; the FAA issued a ferry permit and the aircraft was released to fly to ZZZ for additional repairs. The preflight and taxi were uneventful and no abnormalities were noted. After rotation on climb out; approximately 400-600 feet tower communicated that there appeared to be an excessive venting of fluid from the left side of the aircraft. There were no associated cautions or warning indications and all systems pressures; qualities and temperatures appeared normal. The aircraft [commander] relayed back that everything appeared normal and asked if we were still venting? Tower replied yes and said that it now appeared to be smoke and liquid billowing from the left engine and left side of the aircraft. Tower then queried our intentions. The aircraft was now leveling at 3000 feet per the SID. There were no abnormal indications however because the crew was unable to isolate the cause of the reported smoke and venting fluid elected to do an air return to further investigate instead of proceeding to destination. The crew communicated that we would return to land. The aircraft made left traffic for runway 34. The aircraft landed without incident and there were no abnormal indications or failure of any system. After a thorough postflight; the crew was unable to determine the cause of smoke or fluid; everything appeared to be normal. The [safety] team was notified and the repairs for the right main landing gear actuator and investigation into the cause of tower's observation of smoke and fluid coordinated.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GIV Captain reported being informed by Tower after takeoff that there appeared to be an excessive venting of fluid from the left side of the aircraft. The aircraft was being ferried to repair a leaking right main gear actuator. No anomalies could be detected in the cockpit; but the Captain elected to return to the departure airport.

Narrative: Aircraft had just been prepped for a ferry flight by Maintenance for a leak in the right main gear actuator. The mechanics followed the authorized procedure; the FAA issued a ferry permit and the aircraft was released to fly to ZZZ for additional repairs. The preflight and taxi were uneventful and no abnormalities were noted. After rotation on climb out; approximately 400-600 feet tower communicated that there appeared to be an excessive venting of fluid from the left side of the aircraft. There were no associated cautions or warning indications and all systems pressures; qualities and temperatures appeared normal. The aircraft [commander] relayed back that everything appeared normal and asked if we were still venting? Tower replied yes and said that it now appeared to be smoke and liquid billowing from the left engine and left side of the aircraft. Tower then queried our intentions. The aircraft was now leveling at 3000 feet per the SID. There were no abnormal indications however because the crew was unable to isolate the cause of the reported smoke and venting fluid elected to do an air return to further investigate instead of proceeding to destination. The crew communicated that we would return to land. The aircraft made left traffic for runway 34. The aircraft landed without incident and there were no abnormal indications or failure of any system. After a thorough postflight; the crew was unable to determine the cause of smoke or fluid; everything appeared to be normal. The [safety] team was notified and the repairs for the right main landing gear actuator and investigation into the cause of tower's observation of smoke and fluid coordinated.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.