B767-400 flight crew reported hydraulic system malfunction/failure inflight. Returned to departure airport and landed uneventfully.
Synopsis
B767-400 flight crew reported hydraulic system malfunction/failure inflight. Returned to departure airport and landed uneventfully.
Narrative
During cruise flight at FL340 we received a 'C Hyd Qty' EICAS and a center hydraulic system 'QTY' caution light on the overhead hydraulic panel. The Status Page showed the center system with approximately 0.48RFWe accomplished the HYD QTY - C (L; R) checklist up to the 'deferred items'. These steps included turning off the number 1 and 2 center system electric hydraulic pumps and center air demand hydraulic pump.We alerted the Purser of our issue and had her notify our relief pilot (on break) to come back to the cockpit. We then called Dispatch and had him patch us into both Maintenance Control and the chief pilot. We discussed with Maintenance Control the issue and our options. Maintenance Control verified that we had done the steps previously indicated in the narrative and indicated that we could continue on to ZZZZ1 with the aircraft in its current state. The chief pilot and I discussed the situation and that we now also had a 'C HYD SYS PRESS' EICAS as a result of turning off the three center system hydraulic pumps per the HYD QTY C checklist. The chief pilot and I discussed divert options to ZZZZ (the closest approved alternate) and returning to ZZZ. He agreed with our opinion that continuing to ZZZZ1 (just over five hours flight time away) wasn't the best course of action. After a brief discussion with myself; my two copilots; the Dispatcher; Maintenance Control; and chief pilot that a return to ZZZ was the best course of action in the current aircraft state and that priority handling wasn't warranted.We did not request priority handling at this time.ZZZZ controllers were notified and they cleared us at FL340 back towards the ZZZZZ fix on the ZZZZZ1 arrival in ZZZ.I called the purser and told her the situation and game plan. 2+30 flight time; do not prep for evacuation at this time; possibly get towed to the gate after landing.The hydraulic quantity decreased from 0.48 to 0.46 over the next two and one half hours.Approximately 15nm southeast of ZZZ on vectors to Runway XXR approach told us to slow to 210KIAS. At approximately 225 KIAS we turned the center hydraulic pumps per the deferred items on the HYD C QTY checklist and extended the flaps to 1°. These actions caused the center hydraulic quantity to drop to approximately 0.25 but increased back to approximately 0.39 over the next minute or two.On approximately a 8-10nm final we selected flaps 15° and 20° and the quantity once again dropped to approximately 0.25 and stayed at this level for the short time we were at these flap settings. At this time our eyes were mostly outside the cockpit to acquire a visual with the runway and the proceeding landing aircraft. Just prior to glide slope intercept we put the landing gear down and selected flaps 25° and 30°. The flaps stopped at flaps 25° and the center hydraulic pressure momentarily dropped to 0.0 and we received a CTR HYD Pressure EICAS; but slowly increased to 0.25. I put the flap lever back into the 25° detent to match the flaps position and requested priority handling; gave our souls on board and intentions... continue the approach; when Tower asked if we wanted crash and fire rescue I said 'yes'. We had briefed flying a flaps 25 approach and landing and selecting Reserve Brake and Steering as a contingency.We were stable by 1000' agl and the landing and rollout were uneventful. We cleared Runway XXR at the third left high speed exit (1).We told Tower that we would like to stop on Taxiway 2 and asses our situation. After a brief discussion and review of our current hydraulic system. (Now showing. An increase to 0.25 in the center system) we asked if the fire crews to look our aircraft over for leaks etc. and asked to be towed to the gate. The crew said it appeared like hydraulic fluid was leaking from one of our spoiler panel areas.A tug towed us to the gate uneventfully.Once at the gate we debriefed and I called the chief pilot to discuss the events. The Operations rep met came to the cockpit to ask ifl needed anything. I said I didn't need anything but I was grateful for his attention and efforts to meet us at the airplane.
Second reporter narrative
Just prior to coast out we received a center hydraulic quantity EICAS. We did the appropriate checklist; contacted Dispatch; Maintenance and the chief pilot. We all agreed to divert back to ZZZ. On downwind/base we extended flaps and gear where we got a center hydraulic failure. We requested priority handling and landed safely in ZZZ and where towed to the gate.
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.