Narrative:

After takeoff from ZZZ the tower informed us that another aircraft saw fluid 'spewing' from our left wing during takeoff. The report was disconcerting; but we noted no abnormalities. Climbing through about 5000 ft; we received a center hydraulic quantity message and light. We confirmed we were losing fluid on the status page; so we pulled out the hydraulic quantity and center hydraulic system pressure checklists. Before reaching 10000 ft we had also lost center hydraulic pressure. We ran the checklists; notified ATC of our problem and declared an emergency. We requested and were cleared to return to ZZZ where the WX was clear with calm winds. I notified air carrier dispatch via ACARS of our problem and intentions and they acknowledged. I also sent an ACARS divert message. We elected not to dump fuel as we figured and we would be right about at maximum landing weight. We configured the aircraft according to the checklist and landed safely. Our landing weight was 326500 pounds; 500 pounds over maximum landing weight; which I also wrote up in the logbook. I believe we; as a crew; worked the problem well together and had a successful outcome. I also believe our decision to return to ZZZ was a sound one versus continuing. The center system is the 'heavy' system on the B767 and I felt the safest course of action was to return to an air carrier hub airport we had just departed from where the WX was excellent and has a long runway. I also feel we followed procedures to the safest extent during this event. We figured we were very close to maximum landing weight and dumping fuel would not be necessary as runway avail was more than was required under our circumstances.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767-300 FLT CREW HAD FLUID LEAKING FROM THE LEFT WING ON DEPARTURE; AFTER BEING NOTIFIED BY TOWER OF THE LEAK; THEY RECEIVED A CENTER HYDRAULIC QUANTITY MESSAGE. FLT CREW RETURNED TO DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL OVERWEIGHT LANDING.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM ZZZ THE TWR INFORMED US THAT ANOTHER ACFT SAW FLUID 'SPEWING' FROM OUR L WING DURING TKOF. THE RPT WAS DISCONCERTING; BUT WE NOTED NO ABNORMALITIES. CLBING THROUGH ABOUT 5000 FT; WE RECEIVED A CTR HYD QUANTITY MESSAGE AND LIGHT. WE CONFIRMED WE WERE LOSING FLUID ON THE STATUS PAGE; SO WE PULLED OUT THE HYD QUANTITY AND CTR HYD SYS PRESSURE CHKLISTS. BEFORE REACHING 10000 FT WE HAD ALSO LOST CTR HYD PRESSURE. WE RAN THE CHKLISTS; NOTIFIED ATC OF OUR PROB AND DECLARED AN EMER. WE REQUESTED AND WERE CLRED TO RETURN TO ZZZ WHERE THE WX WAS CLR WITH CALM WINDS. I NOTIFIED ACR DISPATCH VIA ACARS OF OUR PROB AND INTENTIONS AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED. I ALSO SENT AN ACARS DIVERT MESSAGE. WE ELECTED NOT TO DUMP FUEL AS WE FIGURED AND WE WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT AT MAX LNDG WT. WE CONFIGURED THE ACFT ACCORDING TO THE CHKLIST AND LANDED SAFELY. OUR LNDG WT WAS 326500 LBS; 500 LBS OVER MAX LNDG WT; WHICH I ALSO WROTE UP IN THE LOGBOOK. I BELIEVE WE; AS A CREW; WORKED THE PROB WELL TOGETHER AND HAD A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. I ALSO BELIEVE OUR DECISION TO RETURN TO ZZZ WAS A SOUND ONE VERSUS CONTINUING. THE CTR SYS IS THE 'HVY' SYS ON THE B767 AND I FELT THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO RETURN TO AN ACR HUB ARPT WE HAD JUST DEPARTED FROM WHERE THE WX WAS EXCELLENT AND HAS A LONG RWY. I ALSO FEEL WE FOLLOWED PROCS TO THE SAFEST EXTENT DURING THIS EVENT. WE FIGURED WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO MAX LNDG WT AND DUMPING FUEL WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY AS RWY AVAIL WAS MORE THAN WAS REQUIRED UNDER OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.