AN ACR DH8 FLC ON A MAINT FERRY FLT WITH A KNOWN HYD LEAK STARTS TO LOSE THE #2 HYD SYS FLUID. THEY DECLARE AN EMER AND DIVERT AND LAND.

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THE CAPT AND I WERE ASSIGNED A MAINT FERRY. THE ACFT HAD A SMALL HYD LEAK IN THE NOSE GEAR FROM THE NOSE STEERING SYS. WE WERE TO TAKE THE ACFT TO OUR MAINT BASE FROM RAP; SD; TO GJT; CO. PRIOR TO DEP; CAPT INSPECTED THE NOSE GEAR WITH THE AID OF A MECH. WE COMPLETED ALL APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK; INCLUDING A FERRY PERMIT. WE ALSO DISCUSSED POSSIBLE SCENARIOS AND SPECIFIC SYS LOSS SHOULD WE LOSE THE #2 HYD SYS COMPLETELY WHILE ENRTE. WE COMPLETED ALL CHKLISTS NORMALLY; INCLUDING HYD QUANTITY CHK. WE DEPARTED. UPON REACHING OUR CRUISING ALT OF FL220; WE NOTICED THE #2 HYD QUANTITY WAS DOWN FROM 4.5 (3 IS MINIMUM) TO LESS THAN 2. THE CAPT CALLED OUR COMPANY ON SELCAL. THEY DECIDED WE SHOULD DECLARE AN EMER AND DIVERT. WITH MY ASSISTANCE AND AGREEMENT; WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO RAP. AT THIS TIME OUR MAINT DEPT RECOMMENDED THAT WE EXTEND THE GEAR. WE DID SO; IT WAS SLUGGISH IN EXTENSION; BUT OTHERWISE NORMAL. WE PROCEEDED TOWARD THE ARPT AT RAP. WE COMPLETED ALL CHKLISTS ACCORDING TO COMPANY PROC AND MADE A SAFE LNDG -- ALTHOUGH WINDS GUSTED TO 35 KTS; IT WAS UNEVENTFUL.