Medium large transport experiences 'a' system hydraulic loss. Return land.

Attributes
ACN	246535
Time
Date	199307
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	246535
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Just after takeoff, I experienced an 'a' system hydraulic failure. I elected to return to the airport and was handed off to approach control, which was extremely busy at the time. As we were also busy with our abnormal and running checklists, things became quite hectic. During this time I accepted a 90 degree heading change from 090 degrees to 180 degrees. At the time I thought this was for sequencing into his heavy flow of inbound traffic. Because he was so busy, I couldn't get a word in to confirm the change, so I complied with the new heading. A short time later, I was given a heading back to my original heading of 090 degrees. I was never able to confirm the controller's intent. With increased workloads on controllers during busy times, it's impossible to confirm instructions given to us. It sets you up for a classic damned if you do and damned if you don't. Another contributing factor is too many like call signs with company traffic in ewr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG EXPERIENCES 'A' SYS HYD LOSS. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: JUST AFTER TKOF, I EXPERIENCED AN 'A' SYS HYD FAILURE. I ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT AND WAS HANDED OFF TO APCH CTL, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AT THE TIME. AS WE WERE ALSO BUSY WITH OUR ABNORMAL AND RUNNING CHKLISTS, THINGS BECAME QUITE HECTIC. DURING THIS TIME I ACCEPTED A 90 DEG HDG CHANGE FROM 090 DEGS TO 180 DEGS. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THIS WAS FOR SEQUENCING INTO HIS HVY FLOW OF INBOUND TFC. BECAUSE HE WAS SO BUSY, I COULDN'T GET A WORD IN TO CONFIRM THE CHANGE, SO I COMPLIED WITH THE NEW HDG. A SHORT TIME LATER, I WAS GIVEN A HDG BACK TO MY ORIGINAL HDG OF 090 DEGS. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO CONFIRM THE CTLR'S INTENT. WITH INCREASED WORKLOADS ON CTLRS DURING BUSY TIMES, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CONFIRM INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO US. IT SETS YOU UP FOR A CLASSIC DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMNED IF YOU DON'T. ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS TOO MANY LIKE CALL SIGNS WITH COMPANY TFC IN EWR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.