Date: 202106
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.TRACON, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Dusk
Aircraft: Q400
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Hydraulic Main System
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Troubleshooting
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: During climbout from ZZZ passing through approximately FL190 #2 HYD ISO VLV; #2 ENG HYD PUMP; and #2 RUD HYD Master Cautions illuminated in sequence with approx. 10 seconds between each annunciation. I (Captain; CKP; Pilot Flying) identified; verbalized and canceled the Master Cautions after First Officer (Pilot Monitoring) acknowledged each Master Caution. Crew acknowledged that the #2 HYD QTY was approx. 10%; and #2 HYD PRESS was 0 psi. With all 3 Master Cautions illuminated I called for the #2 HYD PUMP caution checklist first. First Officer (FO) began E&A checklist and I took radios. I informed ATC of hydraulic system malfunction; return to field with vectors requested; informed number of souls and fuel onboard; [received priority handling] and advised we would be running checklists and would inform ATC when completed. After we completed the #2 HYD PUMP; and during the hydraulic systems failure checklist; when it states to complete descent and approach checklists; I informed FO to pause there so I could communicate to Dispatch and inform of situation; and have operational control congruency in plan to return to ZZZ. Amendment to Release to return to ZZZ was recorded at XA12Z via phone with Dispatcher Name. I then requested patch through to Maintenance (MX) Control and informed of situation; malfunction; and hydraulics system indications. Aircraft was flying with normal controllability.Flight Attendant (FA) brief was made to include normal landing in ZZZ at approximately XB50lcl. PAX were informed of system indication that required us to return to ZZZ; and to please pay close attention to FAs instructions as they prepare cabin for arrival; and as a standard precautionary measure Fire Department would be standing by with lights flashing. I informed FO of landing weight; FO derived landing bugs from E&A checklist. We completed the descent and approach procedures and checklist; planning RNAV Y RWY XXR; and proceeded with completion of hydraulic system failure landing checklist; followed by alternate gear extension checklist with no operational airspeed exceedance. FAs reported back cabin secure for landing; FO and Captain in agreement informed ATC aircraft was ready for return to land; and that it would be a slower than normal RWY exit and taxi due to inoperative nosewheel steering requiring taxiing with differential power and braking. After normal landing; ATC was informed that Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) [were] no longer needed. FO informed ZZZ OPS to chock main gear also due to emergency/park brake accumulator pressure only available. Taxi to spot was performed with shutdown. AML entry was made with communication with MX CONTROL.




Synopsis: Q400 Captain reported of loss of fluid in the #2 hydraulic system resulted in an air turn back and precautionary landing.