A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Total 27300
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
While enroute to ZZZ1 from ZZZ at FL 390 we received a HYD Y RSVR LO LVL ECAM. First Officer was PF. I ran the ECAM procedure which gave us a secondary ECAM: HYD Y ENG 2 PUMP LO PR. When looking at all available information including weather and NOTAMS at destination which included closure of longest runway; weather conditions at ZZZ2 and distance from ZZZ; we decided to head back to ZZZ. We lost Yellow HYD system Spoilers 2 & 4 ; Reverser number 2 and yaw damper number 2. Aircraft approach capability was also degraded. I [advised] with Center; sent a 7700 code to our Dispatcher and made a PA to our passengers. I had all 3 flight attendants on the intercom system. I notified them of our situation and that we were headed back to ZZZ. I told them they had plenty of time to prepare for landing as we were approximately 45-50 minutes to landing and that it would be a PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. I asked if they had any questions and they each individually stated there were none. ATC gave us direct vectors to ZZZ1 and were given the ILS approach to RWY XXR. ZZZ1 was VFR. First Officer continued to fly during the entire time. The landing was uneventful. ARFF was requested and they were standing by. I did not shut down engines at gate until chocks were in place due to very low YELLOW accumulator pressure. We were met by Maintenance and they stated that there was in fact evidence of hydraulic fluid inside the wheel well and it was still leaking. AML entry was completed. There was no leaks of any other HYD System.
A319 Captain reported loss of fluid from the yellow hydraulic system; causing an air turnback and precautionary landing.