Seaplane or Amphibian
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 3948; Flight Crew Type 985
Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Loss of Hydraulic System.  Controls; Flaps; and Landing Gear.  Was unable to resolve and as result landed amphibious flying boat in grass with assistance of Tower staff.  Minor damage to right wing float.  No injuries. Pilot and Co-pilot/AP/IA in aircraft.  Departed uneventfully.  Returned to the departure airport to retrieve forgotten cell phone.  Put gear down; uneventful landing.  Returned to runway and departed.  Attempted to place gear into up position and gear would not retract.  Departed pattern to work on malfunction.  Rechecked for hydraulic level and found appropriate amount of 5606.  Attempted use of hand pump with no positive results.  Isolated flaps from gear system with no positive results.  Determined that gear was not going to move from trailing position.  Co-Pilot/AP/IA accessed the hull and attempted to ascertain what malfunction occurred.  Fluid was found in compartment and it appeared that the main hydraulic actuator had lost/blown an O-ring.  An attempt to push the gear forward manually commenced with no positive result.  Tailwheel was down and unmoving.  As per standard protocols; for this aircraft; decided that the best course of action was to land aircraft on suitable grass area to mitigate damage.  This airport was selected as it has ample grass areas and maintenance facility.  Landed aircraft with assistance of Tower and staff.  Landing was uneventful.  Aircraft was undamaged with the exception of damage to the right wing float and paint removal at the keel area of the hull.
An amphibian aircraft; experienced a hydraulic pump failure after takeoff and with partially retracted landing gear; the pilot successfully landed on grass at the departure airport resulting in minor damage.