A320 captain receives ECAM for yellow hydraulic system low at FL270 during climb and elects to retur...

Narrative:

At level off; FL270; ECAM for yellow system hyd quantity low. Accomplished ECAM steps; verified low yellow system quantity and notified dispatch and maintenance via dispatch of problem. Had dispatch notify tower of election not to declare emergency and request for runway xxl to minimize taxi distance. Also had dispatch notify ramp of need to chock all wheels due to no parking brake. Notified a flight attendant of situation and that they could expect a normal landing with no need for a cabin advisory or need to inform passengers. Increased landing distance was calculated and found sufficient; as was no right engine reverser and no alternate brakes for backup. On approach aircraft was configured early for possible slow flaps/slats. Landing; runway clearing; taxi to gate and parking were all normal with the exception that the ramp hadn't notified anyone about the need to have the wheels chocked before the left engine could be shut down due to no parking brake. This was despite having been notified by dispatch; having been called by the copilot in the air prior to landing and again told by the copilot after landing. Finally; ramp had been told to tell ground personnel not to open the cargo doors as there was no yellow fluid or low fluid that may pump out on the ground. For some reason this also wasn't passed on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 Captain receives ECAM for Yellow Hydraulic System low at FL270 during climb and elects to return. Attempts to inform the ground crew to be prepared to chock the aircraft upon arrival are unsuccessful.

Narrative: At level off; FL270; ECAM for Yellow system hyd quantity low. Accomplished ECAM steps; verified low Yellow system quantity and notified dispatch and maintenance via dispatch of problem. Had dispatch notify Tower of election not to declare emergency and request for Runway XXL to minimize taxi distance. Also had dispatch notify ramp of need to chock all wheels due to no parking brake. Notified A flight attendant of situation and that they could expect a normal landing with no need for a cabin advisory or need to inform passengers. Increased landing distance was calculated and found sufficient; as was no right engine reverser and no alternate brakes for backup. On approach aircraft was configured early for possible slow flaps/slats. Landing; runway clearing; taxi to gate and parking were all normal with the exception that the ramp hadn't notified anyone about the need to have the wheels chocked before the left engine could be shut down due to no parking brake. This was despite having been notified by dispatch; having been called by the copilot in the air prior to landing and again told by the copilot after landing. Finally; ramp had been told to tell ground personnel not to open the cargo doors as there was no Yellow fluid or low fluid that may pump out on the ground. For some reason this also wasn't passed on.

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.

Attributes
ACN	902730
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Hydraulic Fluid
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 27000 Flight Crew Type 9000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown

A320 captain receives ECAM for yellow hydraulic system low at FL270 during climb and elects to return. Attempts to inform the ground crew to be prepared to chock the aircraft upon arrival are unsuccessful.