Narrative:

Original aircraft assigned to flight was aircraft X. Previous flight crew wrote up right hydraulic system required servicing. This was the third write-up for servicing in 4 days. We suspected a possible leak. The mechanic assigned to the call svced the right system and performed a cursory inspection. No leaks were detected. Concurrently; I requested that a maintenance supervisor come to the aircraft in order to address my concerns. Numerous radio and phone calls were attempted. No supervisor ever came. I was told to call a maintenance supervisor stationed in the ramp tower. Several calls were placed; and either the line was busy; or there was no answer. Finally; the assigned mechanic informed us that no further inspections would be performed. In order to do so; the servicing had to occur over 3 consecutive days. 3 out of 4 days did not qualify. At that point I refused to accept the aircraft. 2 days later I did a check on the computer; and learned that maintenance found the right hydraulic xfer cylinder leaking. They removed and replaced the defective cylinder. On a personal note; I am deeply disappointed with our maintenance department. They have always maintained my highest level of respect. However; this time they clearly were more interested in keeping a schedule than following our #1 precept -- that safety is first.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CAPT REFUSES AN ACFT AFTER DISCOVERING A REPETITIVE HYDRAULIC WRITE-UP THAT FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN THREE DAYS NEEDED SERVICING.

Narrative: ORIGINAL ACFT ASSIGNED TO FLT WAS ACFT X. PREVIOUS FLT CREW WROTE UP R HYD SYS REQUIRED SVCING. THIS WAS THE THIRD WRITE-UP FOR SVCING IN 4 DAYS. WE SUSPECTED A POSSIBLE LEAK. THE MECH ASSIGNED TO THE CALL SVCED THE R SYS AND PERFORMED A CURSORY INSPECTION. NO LEAKS WERE DETECTED. CONCURRENTLY; I REQUESTED THAT A MAINT SUPVR COME TO THE ACFT IN ORDER TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS. NUMEROUS RADIO AND PHONE CALLS WERE ATTEMPTED. NO SUPVR EVER CAME. I WAS TOLD TO CALL A MAINT SUPVR STATIONED IN THE RAMP TWR. SEVERAL CALLS WERE PLACED; AND EITHER THE LINE WAS BUSY; OR THERE WAS NO ANSWER. FINALLY; THE ASSIGNED MECH INFORMED US THAT NO FURTHER INSPECTIONS WOULD BE PERFORMED. IN ORDER TO DO SO; THE SVCING HAD TO OCCUR OVER 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. 3 OUT OF 4 DAYS DID NOT QUALIFY. AT THAT POINT I REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE ACFT. 2 DAYS LATER I DID A CHK ON THE COMPUTER; AND LEARNED THAT MAINT FOUND THE R HYD XFER CYLINDER LEAKING. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER. ON A PERSONAL NOTE; I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH OUR MAINT DEPT. THEY HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY HIGHEST LEVEL OF RESPECT. HOWEVER; THIS TIME THEY CLEARLY WERE MORE INTERESTED IN KEEPING A SCHEDULE THAN FOLLOWING OUR #1 PRECEPT -- THAT SAFETY IS FIRST.

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.