What happened
On the flight from San Fernando (SADF) to Laguna del Sauce (SULS), a Learjet carrying two pilots and seven passengers experienced a technical irregularity during the descent phase. The flight crew noticed a slow and progressive decrease in the hydraulic fluid level. In response, the crew immediately executed the appropriate checklists for the identified irregularity.
The aircraft completed a normal landing on runway 26. As a precautionary safety measure, the crew brought the aircraft to a full stop on taxiway B immediately after exiting the runway. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew, and the aircraft sustained no damage during the event.
The investigation
Following the incident, a physical inspection of the aircraft revealed a hydraulic fluid leak located within the nose gear bay. A qualified mechanic inspected the landing gear lines and confirmed that there was no leakage present in the down-gear hydraulic lines.
Due to the nature of the leak, the aircraft was dispatched on a ferry flight back to San Fernando with the landing gear extended and locked. Upon arrival at the maintenance facility, further technical examination determined that the leak originated in the up-gear pressure line at the nose gear actuator. The repair involved the removal of a rigid line and the repair of a nozzle in accordance with AC 43-13B standards.