A319 pilot flying reported loss of hydraulic fluid and subsequent pitching down of aircraft.

Narrative:

During cruise at FL320 ECAM showed hydraulic Y sys lo and quantity indicated zero. Accomplished ECAM actions in accordance with (in accordance with) checklists and advised dispatch and maintenance control. Elected to continue to ZZZ. During descent on autopilot; aircraft abruptly pitched down; autopilot disconnected; and ECAM momentarily showed hydraulic B + Y sys lo pr. [We] recovered [the] aircraft from pitch down and [requested priority handling with ATC]. The ECAM hydraulic B 'self healed' and disappeared from [the] ECAM display. We used the 7700 ACARS feature to notify dispatch. Apparently; it did not work according to our dispatcher. Accomplished non-routine landing considerations checklist; coordinating with cabin crew and ATC. Did not re-engage autopilot for the remainder of the flight and hand flew the approach. There is a discrepancy between ECAM and the manual on turning on Y sys engine pump during approach. We chose the ECAM guidance and turned on the pump after configuring. We expected only one reverse on rollout; but had indications of normal reverse on both engines. Taxied to gate with crash fire rescue equipment (crash fire rescue) following. Terminated [priority handling] with ground after shutdown. On post flight; first officer (first officer) found fluid covering the bottom of the airplane; in the left wheel well; and on the left main landing gear. During the van ride to our layover hotel; the fas (flight attendant) told us a burning mechanical smell in mid cabin occurred soon after the pitch down.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 Pilot Flying reported loss of hydraulic fluid and subsequent pitching down of aircraft.

Narrative: During cruise at FL320 ECAM showed HYD Y sys lo and quantity indicated zero. Accomplished ECAM actions IAW (In Accordance With) checklists and advised Dispatch and Maintenance Control. Elected to continue to ZZZ. During descent on autopilot; aircraft abruptly pitched down; autopilot disconnected; and ECAM momentarily showed HYD B + Y sys lo pr. [We] recovered [the] aircraft from pitch down and [requested priority handling with ATC]. The ECAM HYD B 'self healed' and disappeared from [the] ECAM display. We used the 7700 ACARS feature to notify Dispatch. Apparently; it did not work according to our Dispatcher. Accomplished non-routine landing considerations checklist; coordinating with cabin crew and ATC. Did not re-engage autopilot for the remainder of the flight and hand flew the approach. There is a discrepancy between ECAM and the manual on turning on Y sys engine pump during approach. We chose the ECAM guidance and turned on the pump after configuring. We expected only one reverse on rollout; but had indications of normal reverse on both engines. Taxied to gate with CFR (Crash Fire Rescue) following. Terminated [priority handling] with ground after shutdown. On post flight; FO (First Officer) found fluid covering the bottom of the airplane; in the left wheel well; and on the left main landing gear. During the van ride to our layover hotel; the FAs (Flight Attendant) told us a burning mechanical smell in mid cabin occurred soon after the pitch down.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1691833
Time
Date	201910
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Hydraulic System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor