Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Climbing through around FL230 or so got a level 1 hydraulic message quickly followed by a level 2 hydraulic 3 fail (nearly all fluid gone). Told Center we would like to return to departure airport and made a descending left turn towards the airport. Landed uneventfully after manually extending the gear.
MD-11 Captain reported returning to the departure airport after experiencing loss of the Number 3 hydraulic system.