MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Hyd 3 failure at cruise one hour after departure. Returned to the departure airport without incident.
Approximately 5 minutes after level off at FL360 and reviewing aircraft systems noticed the HYD 3 system below the blue line and decreasing. Subsequent HYD 3 Elev Off level 1; then HYD 3 off level 1 and finally HYD 3 Fail alert all within about 5 minutes. Advised Center for emergency return; relayed status to Dispatch via SAT Call and contacted Ramp over VHF. As per QRH; alternate extension of both main and center gear. We asked for a 20 NM final to Runway XX (longest runway) with crash crew on standby. Uneventful landing with no fuel dump and taxi back to ramp with ramp on standby for a tug. Caused by loss of HYD 3 system due to complete fluid loss.
MD-11 flight crew reported the Hydraulic System 3 failed that resulted in a return to the departure airport.