A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 163; Flight Crew Type 1479; Maintenance Technician 6
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
I see evidence of hydraulic fluid emanating from the right wheel well area and write it up. The mechanic came out and [I] helped him find the Blue Hydraulic Maintenance push button. The mechanic also turned on the Yellow pump which pressurized the Yellow and Green systems. The mechanic left and shortly returned and stated there is no leak and everything looked good. I discussed that in my [XX] years on Company's Airbus aircraft that I had never seen hydraulic fluid there. The mechanic was quick to inform me that he had retired as a company mechanic with [XX] years. He said it's not hydraulic fluid because it doesn't smell like Skydrol. I then asked if he lowered the right gear door and he said 'No; I poked my head up there and looked in'. He then said he was signing it off and I would be getting a new MRD (Maintenance Release Document) shortly. I then thanked him as he left the cockpit. Never wanting a confrontation; I called [Maintenance Control] and spoke to [name]. I explained just what I wrote above and told [name] that the gear door was not lowered. [Maintenance Control] seemed perplexed and said that he would send the mechanic back out. The mechanic did come back out and re-pressurized all three systems and lowered the gear door. He was never able to find the source of the leak and we continued or flight to ZZZ1. I have [X] years as an aircraft mechanic and I know what hydraulic [fluid] smells; tastes and feels like! It is NOT the fact that the source of the hydraulic fluid was not determined and I know how hard it can be to find that tiny cracked B nut or the servo/actuator seal that only leaks when un-pressurized (static). I even once found a servo casting that had a pin hole leak in it. My issue is - why do I need to call [Maintenance Control] and tell them their ([XX] year retired [Company]) mechanic did not even lower the gear door to do even a 'half baked'; cursory look for hydraulic fluid?
Flight Crew flying A320 questions diligence by maintenance to conduct proper troubleshooting procedure;