Narrative:

Pushed back from gate. Normal engine #1 start. During engine #2 start grinding noise was heard in the nosewheel area that stopped after a normal start. Flight attendants also reported the unusual noise. No unusual indications were noted on any instruments. Flaps were extended to position #2 as we started our taxi to the south spot. Taxi clearance to runway 24L was received and as we started to taxi we got a 'hydraulic G rsvr lo lvl ECAM.' I spotted the aircraft and set the parking brake. We complied with all items on the ECAM. ECAM did not include turning the ptu switch off as directed in the procedural manual page. Green fluid level showed empty and pressure fluctuating between 800-1500 psi was still noticed even though the ptu was not engaging. Then we received a 'hydraulic Y rsvr ovht ECAM' instructing us to shut off the ptu; the engine driven pump and the electric pump. All items were complied with. At that time we shut down engine #2; attempted to retract the flaps; started the APU; and proceeded to call ramp control for a tractor to tow us back to the gate. Once the APU was up we shut down engine #1. The tow-in procedures were complied with as we were taken back to gate. The tow tractor operator confirmed a large puddle of fluid at both the north and south taxi spots in the alley. After the parking checklist was completed exterior inspection of the aircraft showed large quantities of hydraulic fluid coming from the main landing gear area. Mechanics on scene opened both main landing gear doors. Hydraulic fluid was visibly pouring out of one hydraulic line fitting. Further inspection by the mechanics revealed a total of 5 loose hydraulic line fittings; a cracked ptu; and a pair of pliers that had been left next to the hydraulic lines. Mechanics informed us that the hydraulic system was last worked on by contract maintenance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 WITH LOSE HYD LINES AND A CRACKED PTU LOST GREEN HYD SYSTEM AFTER ENG START. THE HYD SYSTEM HAD BEEN WORKED ON LAST BY CONTRACT MAINT.

Narrative: PUSHED BACK FROM GATE. NORMAL ENG #1 START. DURING ENG #2 START GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE NOSEWHEEL AREA THAT STOPPED AFTER A NORMAL START. FLT ATTENDANTS ALSO RPTED THE UNUSUAL NOISE. NO UNUSUAL INDICATIONS WERE NOTED ON ANY INSTS. FLAPS WERE EXTENDED TO POS #2 AS WE STARTED OUR TAXI TO THE S SPOT. TAXI CLRNC TO RWY 24L WAS RECEIVED AND AS WE STARTED TO TAXI WE GOT A 'HYD G RSVR LO LVL ECAM.' I SPOTTED THE ACFT AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE. WE COMPLIED WITH ALL ITEMS ON THE ECAM. ECAM DID NOT INCLUDE TURNING THE PTU SWITCH OFF AS DIRECTED IN THE PROCEDURAL MANUAL PAGE. GREEN FLUID LEVEL SHOWED EMPTY AND PRESSURE FLUCTUATING BTWN 800-1500 PSI WAS STILL NOTICED EVEN THOUGH THE PTU WAS NOT ENGAGING. THEN WE RECEIVED A 'HYD Y RSVR OVHT ECAM' INSTRUCTING US TO SHUT OFF THE PTU; THE ENG DRIVEN PUMP AND THE ELECTRIC PUMP. ALL ITEMS WERE COMPLIED WITH. AT THAT TIME WE SHUT DOWN ENG #2; ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS; STARTED THE APU; AND PROCEEDED TO CALL RAMP CTL FOR A TRACTOR TO TOW US BACK TO THE GATE. ONCE THE APU WAS UP WE SHUT DOWN ENG #1. THE TOW-IN PROCS WERE COMPLIED WITH AS WE WERE TAKEN BACK TO GATE. THE TOW TRACTOR OPERATOR CONFIRMED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID AT BOTH THE N AND S TAXI SPOTS IN THE ALLEY. AFTER THE PARKING CHKLIST WAS COMPLETED EXTERIOR INSPECTION OF THE ACFT SHOWED LARGE QUANTITIES OF HYD FLUID COMING FROM THE MAIN LNDG GEAR AREA. MECHS ON SCENE OPENED BOTH MAIN LNDG GEAR DOORS. HYD FLUID WAS VISIBLY POURING OUT OF ONE HYD LINE FITTING. FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE MECHS REVEALED A TOTAL OF 5 LOOSE HYD LINE FITTINGS; A CRACKED PTU; AND A PAIR OF PLIERS THAT HAD BEEN LEFT NEXT TO THE HYD LINES. MECHS INFORMED US THAT THE HYD SYS WAS LAST WORKED ON BY CONTRACT MAINT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.