Dash 8-300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
On climb out; received a RUD FULL PRESS caution light. We both looked at the hydraulic quantity. It looked to be around 2-3 quarts and falling on the #2 hydraulics. As we continued the climb; the RUD FULL PRESS extinguished and we only had a #2 ISO VALVE caution light with a little less than a quart left. Captain ran the Emergency Checklist for that light and we got vectors back. Captain informed Dispatch; the Flight Attendant; and the passengers. We transferred controls; called Operations; did the manual gear extension and landed ... fairly uneventfully.
Just after rotation upon selection of landing gear up; the RUD FULL PRESS caution light illuminated. I checked the quantity and noticed the #2 system at 2 quarts and falling rapidly. The First Officer was pilot flying and I made sure he was aware of the situation. When the quantity reached approximately 1 quart the RUD FULL PRESS light extinguished and the #2 ISO VALVE light illuminated. Ran the Non-Normal Checklist; then I contacted Dispatch and Maintenance. Notified the Flight Attendant and made a passenger announcement that we would be returning. I assumed role of pilot flying so the First Officer could complete the alternate gear extension procedure. [We] returned for ILS using alternate gear extension. Just like the simulator.
DHC8-300 flight crew experiences a loss of hydraulic fluid from the number two system as the gear is retracted after takeoff. Flight returns to the departure airport using the alternate gear extension method.