A B737-200 in climb at FL180 experienced a loss of 'a' hydraulic system pressure and quantity. Cause...

Attributes
ACN	452639
Time
Date	199910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	452639
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : a system hyd press indicator other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Climbing through 17000 ft we noticed #2 engine hydraulic pump light 'flickering' then steady 'on.' during discussions and procedural actions we missed our altimeter setting of 29.92 (29.89 at departure). En route information was sent to occ/flight attendant/controllers. In clt, during VMC for anticipated visual approach we were distraction by slow flap extension and gear extension because of a failure by ATC to clear us for the visual as to intercept the localizer course. This all occurred on base leg with a frequency change to clt tower. I 'flew through' the runway 36L localizer, then requested a heading change to join runway 36L localizer (that was approved). However, we needed more time to extend the gear, so a 360 degree turn was requested but vectors were given for another turn on (approximately 15 mi final). Rest of flight was uneventful with normal approach/landing and tow in to the gate. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the aircraft was a B737-200 and the cause of the 'a' system failure was not reported by maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-200 IN CLB AT FL180 EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF 'A' HYD SYS PRESSURE AND QUANTITY. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH 17000 FT WE NOTICED #2 ENG HYD PUMP LIGHT 'FLICKERING' THEN STEADY 'ON.' DURING DISCUSSIONS AND PROCEDURAL ACTIONS WE MISSED OUR ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.92 (29.89 AT DEP). ENRTE INFO WAS SENT TO OCC/FLT ATTENDANT/CTLRS. IN CLT, DURING VMC FOR ANTICIPATED VISUAL APCH WE WERE DISTR BY SLOW FLAP EXTENSION AND GEAR EXTENSION BECAUSE OF A FAILURE BY ATC TO CLR US FOR THE VISUAL AS TO INTERCEPT THE LOC COURSE. THIS ALL OCCURRED ON BASE LEG WITH A FREQ CHANGE TO CLT TWR. I 'FLEW THROUGH' THE RWY 36L LOC, THEN REQUESTED A HDG CHANGE TO JOIN RWY 36L LOC (THAT WAS APPROVED). HOWEVER, WE NEEDED MORE TIME TO EXTEND THE GEAR, SO A 360 DEG TURN WAS REQUESTED BUT VECTORS WERE GIVEN FOR ANOTHER TURN ON (APPROX 15 MI FINAL). REST OF FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL WITH NORMAL APCH/LNDG AND TOW IN TO THE GATE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE ACFT WAS A B737-200 AND THE CAUSE OF THE 'A' SYS FAILURE WAS NOT RPTED BY MAINT.

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.

A B737-200 in climb at FL180 experienced a loss of 'a' hydraulic system pressure and quantity. Cause unknown.