Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During climb above 18;000 FT; HYD1 LO QTY advisory message was displayed. I called for the QRH procedure which instructed us to monitor the quantity which was low; but not empty. I messaged both Dispatch and Maintenance to advise them of the situation. En route; the quantity decreased into the amber range and E1 HYD PUMP FAIL advisory message was displayed; and the electric hydraulic pump came online and held 2;900 PSI. The QRH procedure was completed and we briefed the Hydraulic System 1 failure in case it would be required. The pressure held constant at 2;900 PSI until our descent at 18;000 FT. The pressure fluctuated and dropped from 2;900 and the Hydraulic System 1 failure caution message was displayed on the EICAS. We declared an emergency and had to slow to 250 KTS per the QRH and advised ATC of our speed reduction. We completed the QRH procedure and began our approach after confirming that the Flight Attendant was ready. The landing was uneventful; but we did require a tow off the runway as the nosewheel steering is not operational with a Hydraulic 1 failure. All equipment was in place before landing and we were safely towed to the assigned gate where Maintenance discovered the hydraulic leak. We briefed expectations before the emergency occurred; so everything went quite smoothly. At one point I transferred the controls to the First Officer so that I could coordinate between the company; ATC; and the Flight Attendant.
During climbout; we got an EICAS message indicating low hydraulic quantity #1. We ran the QRH and kept going while monitoring the hydraulic system. In cruise we then got another EICAS message indicating that the engine driven hydraulic pump had failed. We noted that the electrical pump turned on and then ran the QRH for this. Still; we continued because that's what the QRH instructed but we prepared for a Hydraulic System 1 failure. During descent we got the Hydraulic System 1 fail message and noted the pressure was fluctuating from 2;900 PSI to as low as 800 PSI on Hydraulic System One and the electric pump was turning on and off. We then ran the Hydraulic System 1 failure QRH and then declared the emergency. We flew to destination and completed the checklist and landed safely. We had to be towed from the runway because we followed the QRH which indicated not to taxi due to lack of steering from the loss of Hydraulic System 1. We were towed to the gate and Maintenance noted there was a leak in the hydraulic line on the #1 side and that we were still leaking skydrol. The Captain entered the write up into the logbook and I left to go complete my next flight.
EMB-145 flight crew experiences low hydraulic system quantity during climbout and complies with QRH procedures. As the quantity decreases the engine driven pump fails and the electric pump takes over. During descent for landing at destination as the quantity continues to fall the electric pump fails. An uneventful landing ensues with a tow to the gate.