Narrative:

Flew an aircraft with a small hydraulic leak (a drop or 2 an hour). Aircraft had flown all day (6 legs, about 5.5 hours flight time) with no effect on hydraulic qty. I was told on the spot by the local mechanic about the leak and discussed how much pressure was on the leak area, and I agreed to fly the aircraft from dca to orf. Our maintenance personnel at headquarters were very evasive about what exactly was wrong with the aircraft. Flight proceeded uneventfully, and after landing the hydraulic line broke and dumped the system. It was only later that I found out that the captain who had flown the aircraft the 6 previous legs had not been informed about the leak. 2 things learned: 1) don't fly with any hydraulic leak, and 2) write down, record, all conversations with maintenance (god what a paperwork load) and get names.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MDT DEP DCA WITH A KNOWN HYDRAULIC LEAK. HYDRAULIC LINE BROKE AFTER LNDG AT ORF WITH COMPLETE FLUID LOSS.

Narrative: FLEW AN ACFT WITH A SMALL HYD LEAK (A DROP OR 2 AN HR). ACFT HAD FLOWN ALL DAY (6 LEGS, ABOUT 5.5 HRS FLT TIME) WITH NO EFFECT ON HYD QTY. I WAS TOLD ON THE SPOT BY THE LCL MECH ABOUT THE LEAK AND DISCUSSED HOW MUCH PRESSURE WAS ON THE LEAK AREA, AND I AGREED TO FLY THE ACFT FROM DCA TO ORF. OUR MAINT PERSONNEL AT HQ WERE VERY EVASIVE ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WAS WRONG WITH THE ACFT. FLT PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY, AND AFTER LNDG THE HYD LINE BROKE AND DUMPED THE SYS. IT WAS ONLY LATER THAT I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAPT WHO HAD FLOWN THE ACFT THE 6 PREVIOUS LEGS HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE LEAK. 2 THINGS LEARNED: 1) DON'T FLY WITH ANY HYD LEAK, AND 2) WRITE DOWN, RECORD, ALL CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINT (GOD WHAT A PAPERWORK LOAD) AND GET NAMES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.