MD80 flight crew reports left hydraulic pump failure on departure and return to airport.

Attributes
ACN	774805
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 13000
Environment
Weather Elements	Ice Rain
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	774805
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : l hyd low pressure
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During climb out through approximately 13000 ft we got a left hydraulic pressure low light/warning. After accomplishing the QRH procedure for said warning it was determined that our left engine hydraulic pump had failed. After review of the circumstances and possibility of xfer pump failure ie; left hydraulic system loss I declared an emergency (overweight landing) and returned. ZZZ dispatch was contacted and he consulted with maintenance and I was later told that both concurred with my decision. We landed uneventfully at ZZZ at a weight of 138200 pounds; sink rate of 300 FPM and the landing was smooth.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW REPORTS LEFT HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILURE ON DEPARTURE AND RETURN TO ARPT.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT THROUGH APPROX 13000 FT WE GOT A L HYD PRESSURE LOW LIGHT/WARNING. AFTER ACCOMPLISHING THE QRH PROC FOR SAID WARNING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OUR L ENG HYD PUMP HAD FAILED. AFTER REVIEW OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND POSSIBILITY OF XFER PUMP FAILURE IE; L HYD SYS LOSS I DECLARED AN EMER (OVERWT LNDG) AND RETURNED. ZZZ DISPATCH WAS CONTACTED AND HE CONSULTED WITH MAINT AND I WAS LATER TOLD THAT BOTH CONCURRED WITH MY DECISION. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AT ZZZ AT A WT OF 138200 LBS; SINK RATE OF 300 FPM AND THE LNDG WAS SMOOTH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.