DC8 has loss of hydraulics in main hydraulic system but continues to destination.

Attributes
ACN	460185
Time
Date	200001
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 16500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	460185
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

About 1 hour after takeoff from sfo, the flight engineer told me that we had a slow loss of hydraulic fluid (main hydraulic rear vain). We alternately bypassed the main engine drain hydraulic pumps, but the quantity continued to fall. I called for the 'loss of hydraulic fluid' checklist, and when it was completed, notified ATC of our condition and requested a block cruise altitude. We contacted company radio for a redispatch for mach .78 at FL290 and received a new fuel burn schedule and updated WX. About 140 NM from fwa, I requested descent to 5000 ft and declared an emergency. About 40 NM from fwa, I slowed to 225 KTS and performed the rest of the abnormal, emergency, approach, and before landing checklists. Flaps and landing gear were extended, and the aircraft landed safely on runway 23. After clearing the runway, gear pins were installed, and the aircraft was towed to the gate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC8 HAS LOSS OF HYDS IN MAIN HYD SYS BUT CONTINUES TO DEST.

Narrative: ABOUT 1 HR AFTER TKOF FROM SFO, THE FE TOLD ME THAT WE HAD A SLOW LOSS OF HYD FLUID (MAIN HYD REAR VAIN). WE ALTERNATELY BYPASSED THE MAIN ENG DRAIN HYD PUMPS, BUT THE QUANTITY CONTINUED TO FALL. I CALLED FOR THE 'LOSS OF HYD FLUID' CHKLIST, AND WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED, NOTIFIED ATC OF OUR CONDITION AND REQUESTED A BLOCK CRUISE ALT. WE CONTACTED COMPANY RADIO FOR A REDISPATCH FOR MACH .78 AT FL290 AND RECEIVED A NEW FUEL BURN SCHEDULE AND UPDATED WX. ABOUT 140 NM FROM FWA, I REQUESTED DSCNT TO 5000 FT AND DECLARED AN EMER. ABOUT 40 NM FROM FWA, I SLOWED TO 225 KTS AND PERFORMED THE REST OF THE ABNORMAL, EMER, APCH, AND BEFORE LNDG CHKLISTS. FLAPS AND LNDG GEAR WERE EXTENDED, AND THE ACFT LANDED SAFELY ON RWY 23. AFTER CLRING THE RWY, GEAR PINS WERE INSTALLED, AND THE ACFT WAS TOWED TO THE GATE.

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.