Medium large transport takes delay for hydraulic fluid problem. Departs and notices low indication f...

Attributes
ACN	322375
Time
Date	199512
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	322375
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We arrived at gate to take flight to memphis. The mechanic informed us on his inspection he found a hydraulic leak in the tail section of the aircraft. The captain went out to see the work in progress. The mechanic informed him he felt the fluid was overfill from the APU engine oil. The captain pointed out to the mechanic that our cockpit gauge indicated slightly above refill. The captain and mechanic both looked at the sight gauge on the reservoir and that confirmed the cockpit gauge. At this point, the captain informed the mechanic he would not accept the aircraft unless he could assure him there was no leak in the system. Total time delay was approximately 1 hour. The mechanic informed us there was no leak and the fluid was replenished. Normal pushback and area departure. At approximately 15000-20000 ft, we noticed hydraulic level was down to the refill level again. We contacted maintenance by voice, and were advised to return to the field and were recommended to have equipment standing by. We advised the first flight attendant to conduct a short preparation of cabin. Overweight landing at 101000 pounds flaps 40 degrees was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG TAKES DELAY FOR HYD FLUID PROB. DEPARTS AND NOTICES LOW INDICATION FOR HYD FLUID. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: WE ARRIVED AT GATE TO TAKE FLT TO MEMPHIS. THE MECH INFORMED US ON HIS INSPECTION HE FOUND A HYD LEAK IN THE TAIL SECTION OF THE ACFT. THE CAPT WENT OUT TO SEE THE WORK IN PROGRESS. THE MECH INFORMED HIM HE FELT THE FLUID WAS OVERFILL FROM THE APU ENG OIL. THE CAPT POINTED OUT TO THE MECH THAT OUR COCKPIT GAUGE INDICATED SLIGHTLY ABOVE REFILL. THE CAPT AND MECH BOTH LOOKED AT THE SIGHT GAUGE ON THE RESERVOIR AND THAT CONFIRMED THE COCKPIT GAUGE. AT THIS POINT, THE CAPT INFORMED THE MECH HE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE ACFT UNLESS HE COULD ASSURE HIM THERE WAS NO LEAK IN THE SYS. TOTAL TIME DELAY WAS APPROX 1 HR. THE MECH INFORMED US THERE WAS NO LEAK AND THE FLUID WAS REPLENISHED. NORMAL PUSHBACK AND AREA DEP. AT APPROX 15000-20000 FT, WE NOTICED HYD LEVEL WAS DOWN TO THE REFILL LEVEL AGAIN. WE CONTACTED MAINT BY VOICE, AND WERE ADVISED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD AND WERE RECOMMENDED TO HAVE EQUIP STANDING BY. WE ADVISED THE FIRST FLT ATTENDANT TO CONDUCT A SHORT PREPARATION OF CABIN. OVERWT LNDG AT 101000 LBS FLAPS 40 DEGS WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.

Medium large transport takes delay for hydraulic fluid problem. Departs and notices low indication for hydraulic fluid. Return land.