Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Evacuated; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
After takeoff upon retracting gear; we received an AMBER A side HYD LEVEL LOW message. Upon selecting HYD synoptics noted that the HYD Quantity in the A side had dropped to 11%. We continued our climb on the RNAV Departure ran the checklist at a safe altitude; and opted to make an emergency return to ZZZ. We alerted ATC of the condition; requests and advised the passengers of the situation. We completed the checklist setup for a landing to runway XXR and advised the tower that we would like emergency equipment standing by. Following landing and application of emergency brakes we stopped the aircraft and advised the tower that we would need to be towed from the runway upon opening the cabin door we observed smoke coming from the left main gear area and evacuated the passengers to the edge of the runway. In coordination with the fire department on site we secured the aircraft and insured there was no fire. The passengers were picked up by a van and returned to [the FBO]. The aircraft was towed from the runway to [the FBO] with no further incident.
C750 First Officer reported loss of hydraulic fluid after takeoff that resulted in a return to the field and smoke from the landing gear area.