C172RG pilot reports a hydraulic fluid leak in the cockpit shortly after takeoff and declared an eme...

Attributes
ACN	877165
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Hydraulic System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 17 Flight Crew Total 371.7 Flight Crew Type 14.2
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

During initial climb shortly after takeoff the cessna C-172RG I was flying suffered a hydraulic fluid leak in the cockpit. Upon seeing the fluid; which I estimated was hydraulic; pouring onto the cockpit floor from behind the instrument panel; I declared an emergency with approach control; and requested sequencing for immediate landing. I was then given guidance by air traffic control to make an approach via the base leg and was cleared to land. I extended the landing gear; and saw the left main gear extend from my point of view via the pilot's window. I then verified the green landing gear position indicator light was lit. I also asked ATC to confirm they could see that my landing gear was down; which they did. I continued through landing; taking care to touch down delicately. I then taxied the airplane under its own power to the ramp with clearance from ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172RG pilot reports a hydraulic fluid leak in the cockpit shortly after takeoff and declared an emergency. The landing gear extended normally and a delicate landing ensued.

Narrative: During initial climb shortly after takeoff the Cessna C-172RG I was flying suffered a hydraulic fluid leak in the cockpit. Upon seeing the fluid; which I estimated was hydraulic; pouring onto the cockpit floor from behind the instrument panel; I declared an emergency with Approach Control; and requested sequencing for immediate landing. I was then given guidance by Air Traffic Control to make an approach via the base leg and was cleared to land. I extended the landing gear; and saw the left main gear extend from my point of view via the pilot's window. I then verified the green landing gear position indicator light was lit. I also asked ATC to confirm they could see that my landing gear was down; which they did. I continued through landing; taking care to touch down delicately. I then taxied the airplane under its own power to the ramp with clearance from ATC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.