P180 Avanti
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 9200; Flight Crew Type 2000
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Excursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
The weather was VFR with winds 040 at 05 KTS. I was the Captain and pilot flying in a Piaggio; with a First Officer as the non-flying pilot. After lift off and positive climb was established I called for landing gear up. After the First Officer selected the gear handle to the up position there was a hydraulic pressure annunciator illuminated and the hydraulic pressure indicated 0 PSI. We conducted the after takeoff check and then I assumed radio transmissions and asked the First Officer to retrieve the QRH and conduct the Hydraulic Failure Checklist. That checklist brought us to the Emergency Gear Extension Checklist which we also conducted. Now the landing gear was down and locked. I then requested vectors from Approach to return to the departure airport. They said for us to expect Runway 06; I asked the First Officer to load the ILS 06 approach into the FMS and set up the NAVs as well. [I] called for an approach check followed by the Landing Checklist. The landing was briefed as flaps down; props 2;000; VREF 120 KTS. Emergency braking was also discussed during the briefing. The touchdown was completed on speed and on centerline. I then put the propellers into reverse and continued to track straight with the use of rudder control. As I continued to slow the aircraft began to yaw left; rudder was no longer effective so I applied right differential braking and came out of reverse. Now the airplane was yawing to the right and braking was not effective in stopping the aircraft before departing the right side of the runway approximately 1;000 FT from the end.
After departure we had a hydraulic pump failure during gear retraction leaving gear partially retracted. [We] performed emergency checklist for the hydraulic pump failure and also the Emergency Gear Extension Checklist. Landing gear successfully locked down with 3 green indications. Performed descent and approach checklists and returned to departure airport. Normal approach and landing but at the end of our roll out the aircraft exited the right side of the runway and got stuck in the mud. In the Piaggio with a hydraulic failure you also lose the nose wheel steering and your brakes. So as the aircraft slows you lose rudder control with little airflow over the rudder and the aircraft drifted off the side of the runway. The only thing I can see that would help with directional control after hydraulic failure is to have a mechanical connection from the rudder pedals to the nose wheel. [This would allow] some directional control even if the deflection of the nose wheel is only a small amount instead of a free castering nose wheel.
P180 flight crew experiences a hydraulic system failure as the landing gear is retracted after takeoff. The gear is extended using the Emergency Gear Extension Checklist and the flight returns to the departure airport. During the roll out without nose wheel steering or normal brakes; directional control is lost as the rudder becomes ineffective and the aircraft departs the runway at low speed.