An air carrier DH8 flight crew on a maintenance ferry flight with a known hydraulic leak starts to l...

Attributes
ACN	376761
Time
Date	199708
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rap
State Reference	SD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	376761
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

The captain and I were assigned a maintenance ferry. The aircraft had a small hydraulic leak in the nose gear from the nose steering system. We were to take the aircraft to our maintenance base from rap, sd, to gjt, co. Prior to departure, captain inspected the nose gear with the aid of a mechanic. We completed all appropriate paperwork, including a ferry permit. We also discussed possible scenarios and specific system loss should we lose the #2 hydraulic system completely while en route. We completed all checklists normally, including hydraulic quantity check. We departed. Upon reaching our cruising altitude of FL220, we noticed the #2 hydraulic quantity was down from 4.5 (3 is minimum) to less than 2. The captain called our company on SELCAL. They decided we should declare an emergency and divert. With my assistance and agreement, we decided to return to rap. At this time our maintenance department recommended that we extend the gear. We did so, it was sluggish in extension, but otherwise normal. We proceeded toward the airport at rap. We completed all checklists according to company procedure and made a safe landing -- although winds gusted to 35 KTS, it was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR DH8 FLC ON A MAINT FERRY FLT WITH A KNOWN HYD LEAK STARTS TO LOSE THE #2 HYD SYS FLUID. THEY DECLARE AN EMER AND DIVERT AND LAND.

Narrative: THE CAPT AND I WERE ASSIGNED A MAINT FERRY. THE ACFT HAD A SMALL HYD LEAK IN THE NOSE GEAR FROM THE NOSE STEERING SYS. WE WERE TO TAKE THE ACFT TO OUR MAINT BASE FROM RAP, SD, TO GJT, CO. PRIOR TO DEP, CAPT INSPECTED THE NOSE GEAR WITH THE AID OF A MECH. WE COMPLETED ALL APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK, INCLUDING A FERRY PERMIT. WE ALSO DISCUSSED POSSIBLE SCENARIOS AND SPECIFIC SYS LOSS SHOULD WE LOSE THE #2 HYD SYS COMPLETELY WHILE ENRTE. WE COMPLETED ALL CHKLISTS NORMALLY, INCLUDING HYD QUANTITY CHK. WE DEPARTED. UPON REACHING OUR CRUISING ALT OF FL220, WE NOTICED THE #2 HYD QUANTITY WAS DOWN FROM 4.5 (3 IS MINIMUM) TO LESS THAN 2. THE CAPT CALLED OUR COMPANY ON SELCAL. THEY DECIDED WE SHOULD DECLARE AN EMER AND DIVERT. WITH MY ASSISTANCE AND AGREEMENT, WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO RAP. AT THIS TIME OUR MAINT DEPT RECOMMENDED THAT WE EXTEND THE GEAR. WE DID SO, IT WAS SLUGGISH IN EXTENSION, BUT OTHERWISE NORMAL. WE PROCEEDED TOWARD THE ARPT AT RAP. WE COMPLETED ALL CHKLISTS ACCORDING TO COMPANY PROC AND MADE A SAFE LNDG -- ALTHOUGH WINDS GUSTED TO 35 KTS, IT WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.

An air carrier DH8 flight crew on a maintenance ferry flight with a known hydraulic leak starts to lose the #2 hydraulic system fluid. They declare an emergency and divert and land.