SF 340B
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Excursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Taxing north on taxiway hotel the HYDR light flashed on followed by a struggling sound from our hydraulic pump. Shortly there after the hydraulic pump went silent. Almost instantly we lost steering and braking. We put the hydraulic pump to override and nothing. At this point the aircraft was moving slowly to the left of the centerline towards the taxiway edge. With reverse thrust I was almost able to bring the aircraft to a complete stop. I immediately shut down the engines going straight to fuel off and the aircraft rolled about 6 FT off the edge of the taxiway. The Flight Attendant was notified of the situation and operations were called. Airport operations quickly had a bus to take our passengers back to the terminal. We were towed back to the gate. There was no aircraft damage and no complaints from passengers.
SF340 Captain experiences a hydraulic pump failure while taxiing for takeoff; resulting in loss of steering and braking. Reverse thrust is used and the engines are shut down and the aircraft departs the taxiway a short distance before coming to a stop.