Narrative:

Just after flap and gear retraction, 'a' hydraulic failed via a major leak in the wheelwell. We declared an emergency and dumped to landing weight (150,000 pounds) over the gulf of mexico. During the hydraulic failure checklist we discovered the flap gauges were crosswired. The outboard gauge was sensing the inboard flaps and vice versa! We landed with 15 degree flaps, stopped on the runway and were towed to the gate. I let the copilot fly the plane while the second officer and I ran the checklist, which worked very well. I had to force myself not to keep interrupting the reading of the checklist with non-related items. He was nervous, new to the position, and any interruption only served to confuse him.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT SUFFERED HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF. DISCOVERED THAT FLAP POSITION INDICATORS WERE CROSS WIRED. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: JUST AFTER FLAP AND GEAR RETRACTION, 'A' HYDRAULIC FAILED VIA A MAJOR LEAK IN THE WHEELWELL. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND DUMPED TO LNDG WEIGHT (150,000 LBS) OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO. DURING THE HYDRAULIC FAILURE CHECKLIST WE DISCOVERED THE FLAP GAUGES WERE CROSSWIRED. THE OUTBOARD GAUGE WAS SENSING THE INBOARD FLAPS AND VICE VERSA! WE LANDED WITH 15 DEG FLAPS, STOPPED ON THE RWY AND WERE TOWED TO THE GATE. I LET THE COPLT FLY THE PLANE WHILE THE S/O AND I RAN THE CHECKLIST, WHICH WORKED VERY WELL. I HAD TO FORCE MYSELF NOT TO KEEP INTERRUPTING THE READING OF THE CHECKLIST WITH NON-RELATED ITEMS. HE WAS NERVOUS, NEW TO THE POSITION, AND ANY INTERRUPTION ONLY SERVED TO CONFUSE HIM.

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.