What occurs if the hydraulic fluid flow filter becomes clogged?

When a hydraulic fluid flow filter becomes clogged, the system is designed to maintain operation through a bypass mechanism. In this scenario, fluid is redirected through a bypass valve, allowing continued flow despite the obstruction in the filter. This feature is crucial for ensuring that hydraulic systems can still operate even when the filter needs maintenance or replacement, preventing total system failure.

Bypassing fluid helps to maintain pressure and ensure that the hydraulic components still receive fluid, even if the filter is not able to perform its primary function of filtering contaminants. This is important for the reliability and safety of the aircraft's hydraulic system, as it prevents failure due to clogged filtration, which could lead to a more significant problem if the system were to halt completely.

Other options describe consequences that are not typical outcomes of a clogged filter in a hydraulic system designed with appropriate bypass capabilities.