What happened
Shortly after departing Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport-Lovell Field, the crew of a Boeing 757-236 operated by Federal Express initiated the landing gear retraction sequence. While the initial retraction of the nose and main landing gear appeared successful, flight data recorders later revealed that the hydraulic fluid quantity and pressure within the left hydraulic system began to drop 22 seconds after the gear was locked in the up position. This drop in pressure triggered a low quantity indication and a master caution alert in the cockpit.
Following standard troubleshooting procedures, the flight crew decided to return to the departure airport. During the subsequent approach, the crew discovered that the landing gear would not extend when the control lever was moved to the down position. The crew notified air traffic control of a gear disagreement and attempted to utilize the alternate landing gear extension system. This system relies on a specific hydraulic circuit to release the gear uplocks; however, despite multiple attempts and repeated execution of the hydraulic system pressure checklists over a seven-minute period, the gear remained retracted.
Due to the loss of nose wheel steering associated with the alternate extension procedure, the crew declared an emergency. As the aircraft prepared for its final approach, the crew coordinated a landing plan that involved a jump seat occupant opening the forward left entry door upon arrival. Upon touchdown on runway 20, the aircraft failed to stop within the runway limits. The plane slid off the departure end of the runway and struck localizer antennas, eventually coming to a halt approximately 830 feet past the runway threshold. There were zero fatalities among the three crew members, though the aircraft sustained total loss damage.
Findings
Data from the digital flight data recorder indicates that a loss of pressure and fluid in the left hydraulic system occurred shortly after the initial gear retraction, which prevented the landing gear from being extended via the primary hydraulic system.