Narrative:

On arrival into ZZZ1; after descent check was complete we noted that the left hydraulic quantity was low with low-level caution light on. We did the abnormal procedure for low quantity and then noted that the left hydraulic pressure was zero. We then did the abnormal procedure for loss of left hydraulic system. When the system could not be recovered; we declared an emergency with ZZZ2 approach control. We asked for vectors to land at ZZZ2 in order to have a longer runway. I notified the flight attendants of the unscheduled landing and made a PA to the passenger. The first officer notified our dispatcher by ACARS and then coordinated for an aircraft tug and maintenance assistance over the operations frequency. ATC vectored us for an ILS approach. After landing we were able to clear the runway and stop on the parallel taxiway. Factors affecting performance: this situation was very similar to many simulator training scenarios as far as time constraints and requirements to coordinate with crew and outside agencies (ATC; dispatcher; etc). The training had a positive effect on how we handled this event.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 FLT CREW REPORTS LEFT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE DURING DESCENT WITH DIVERSION TO ARPT WITH LONGER RWYS. EMERGENCY IS DECLARED.

Narrative: ON ARR INTO ZZZ1; AFTER DSCNT CHK WAS COMPLETE WE NOTED THAT THE L HYD QUANTITY WAS LOW WITH LOW-LEVEL CAUTION LIGHT ON. WE DID THE ABNORMAL PROC FOR LOW QUANTITY AND THEN NOTED THAT THE L HYD PRESSURE WAS ZERO. WE THEN DID THE ABNORMAL PROC FOR LOSS OF L HYD SYS. WHEN THE SYS COULD NOT BE RECOVERED; WE DECLARED AN EMER WITH ZZZ2 APCH CTL. WE ASKED FOR VECTORS TO LAND AT ZZZ2 IN ORDER TO HAVE A LONGER RWY. I NOTIFIED THE FLT ATTENDANTS OF THE UNSCHEDULED LNDG AND MADE A PA TO THE PAX. THE FO NOTIFIED OUR DISPATCHER BY ACARS AND THEN COORDINATED FOR AN ACFT TUG AND MAINT ASSISTANCE OVER THE OPS FREQ. ATC VECTORED US FOR AN ILS APCH. AFTER LNDG WE WERE ABLE TO CLR THE RWY AND STOP ON THE PARALLEL TXWY. FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE: THIS SITUATION WAS VERY SIMILAR TO MANY SIMULATOR TRAINING SCENARIOS AS FAR AS TIME CONSTRAINTS AND REQUIREMENTS TO COORDINATE WITH CREW AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES (ATC; DISPATCHER; ETC). THE TRAINING HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT ON HOW WE HANDLED THIS EVENT.

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.