The USS CORONADO

The USS CORONADO (LCS-4) was in transit to Hawaii. At around 0230 in the morning, there was a call over the engineering radio channel. “Engineering Plant Technician (EPT) investigate low Hydraulic pressure on number 3 Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU).” While sipping coffee on watch with another First-Class Petty Officer, we left our caffeine fix and ran to the Jet Equipment room responding to the emergency call.

When we arrived, we found one of the other EPT watch-standers getting covered in hydraulic fluid. He was draping small rags over the high pressure filter housing to deflect the spray down in hopes of it not atomizing. The spray was coming out near 200 PSI at 5 gallons a minute. There was a mist in the air due to all the hydraulic fluid that was atomized.

As we were tying rags to cover the spray, we continued to get doused in hydraulic fluid. At the same time, we were also calling the Ready Control Officer (RCO) to shut the HPU down. By the time the RCO shut down the diesel engine attached to the number 3 HPU, we had about 40 gallons of hydraulic fluid on deck and everything within 15 feet of it was cover and dripping with Hydraulic fluid.

There is still no standard tool or operating procedure for the case above and this is one of the reasons the RDI Shield was created.

~ Chief Hull Maintenance Technician (Retired) Trevor Terra