Air carrier medium large transport return land after hydraulic problem evinces itself in climb out.

Attributes
ACN	183011
Time
Date	199107
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bsv
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tower : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	183011
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

First noticed erratic behavior of autoplt moving controls during climb. Scan indicated quickly dropping hydraulic pressure and quantity. Informed ATC we desired lower altitude. Contacted system operation directly via VHF and explained situation (right hydraulic inoperative). I was desiring a return to departure point pittsburgh as most suitable runway for time. Did not declare an emergency but requested emergency vehs standing by. Informed system control of our progress. Completed all abnormal checklists and reviewed 'components out' and hydro schematic. Briefed F/as and passengers but did not put passenger in brace positions. My judgement was that we were in a VFR cavu day. 11000' runway, dry surface. No other problems except 50 percent ground spoilers and reduced braking (1 full application and then 50 percent repeated application). I could easily get the aircraft stopped west/O using any brakes. Nothing was to be gained by 'declaring' an emergency or by putting passenger in a brace situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG RETURN LAND AFTER HYDRAULIC PROBLEM EVINCES ITSELF IN CLIMB OUT.

Narrative: FIRST NOTICED ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF AUTOPLT MOVING CTLS DURING CLB. SCAN INDICATED QUICKLY DROPPING HYD PRESSURE AND QUANTITY. INFORMED ATC WE DESIRED LOWER ALT. CONTACTED SYS OPERATION DIRECTLY VIA VHF AND EXPLAINED SITUATION (R HYD INOP). I WAS DESIRING A RETURN TO DEP POINT PITTSBURGH AS MOST SUITABLE RWY FOR TIME. DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER BUT REQUESTED EMER VEHS STANDING BY. INFORMED SYS CTL OF OUR PROGRESS. COMPLETED ALL ABNORMAL CHKLISTS AND REVIEWED 'COMPONENTS OUT' AND HYDRO SCHEMATIC. BRIEFED F/AS AND PAXS BUT DID NOT PUT PAX IN BRACE POSITIONS. MY JUDGEMENT WAS THAT WE WERE IN A VFR CAVU DAY. 11000' RWY, DRY SURFACE. NO OTHER PROBS EXCEPT 50 PERCENT GND SPOILERS AND REDUCED BRAKING (1 FULL APPLICATION AND THEN 50 PERCENT REPEATED APPLICATION). I COULD EASILY GET THE ACFT STOPPED W/O USING ANY BRAKES. NOTHING WAS TO BE GAINED BY 'DECLARING' AN EMER OR BY PUTTING PAX IN A BRACE SITUATION.

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.