A B727 crew, departing mem, experienced a hydraulic system failure, spawning a return to mem.

Attributes
ACN	561781
Time
Date	200209
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mem.vortac
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Fog Rain
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc tower : fcm.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	561781
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	561632
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : so 3
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During departure from mem to tys at approximately 4000 ft, we lost hydraulic system 'a.' leveled aircraft at 5000 ft and started the hydraulic leak or loss checklist. While accomplishing checklist and lowering flaps, discovered #4 led in-transit indication was still illuminated on so annunciator panel. Started the led failure with loss of hydraulic system 'a' checklist. During accomplishment of this checklist, discovered standby hydraulic system overheat light illuminated. Accomplished overheat checklist. During accomplishment of these emergency checklists, entered holding on the mem runway 36C localizer. After checklists completed, flaps lowered to 15 degrees, gear cranked down, we flew the ILS runway 36C. WX at mem approximately 600 ft overcast, 4 mi visibility. I declared an emergency. After landing on runway 36C, stopped aircraft on runway and had gear pins installed and towed to parking. After block-in we had an aircraft change. Ramp personnel transloaded the freight and crew flew uneventful mem-tys-mem. During transload, I left message with company duty officer pager/message center.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 CREW, DEPARTING MEM, EXPERIENCED A HYD SYS FAILURE, SPAWNING A RETURN TO MEM.

Narrative: DURING DEP FROM MEM TO TYS AT APPROX 4000 FT, WE LOST HYD SYS 'A.' LEVELED ACFT AT 5000 FT AND STARTED THE HYD LEAK OR LOSS CHKLIST. WHILE ACCOMPLISHING CHKLIST AND LOWERING FLAPS, DISCOVERED #4 LED IN-TRANSIT INDICATION WAS STILL ILLUMINATED ON SO ANNUNCIATOR PANEL. STARTED THE LED FAILURE WITH LOSS OF HYD SYS 'A' CHKLIST. DURING ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS CHKLIST, DISCOVERED STANDBY HYD SYS OVERHEAT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ACCOMPLISHED OVERHEAT CHKLIST. DURING ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THESE EMER CHKLISTS, ENTERED HOLDING ON THE MEM RWY 36C LOC. AFTER CHKLISTS COMPLETED, FLAPS LOWERED TO 15 DEGS, GEAR CRANKED DOWN, WE FLEW THE ILS RWY 36C. WX AT MEM APPROX 600 FT OVCST, 4 MI VISIBILITY. I DECLARED AN EMER. AFTER LNDG ON RWY 36C, STOPPED ACFT ON RWY AND HAD GEAR PINS INSTALLED AND TOWED TO PARKING. AFTER BLOCK-IN WE HAD AN ACFT CHANGE. RAMP PERSONNEL TRANSLOADED THE FREIGHT AND CREW FLEW UNEVENTFUL MEM-TYS-MEM. DURING TRANSLOAD, I LEFT MESSAGE WITH COMPANY DUTY OFFICER PAGER/MESSAGE CTR.

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.