What happened
On February 21, 1989, a Boeing 737-200, registration CS-TEL, operated by TAP Air Portugal, was performing a flight from Munich to Lisbon. During the approach to Lisbon Airport, the flight crew declared an emergency, reporting that the aircraft was running low on fuel. Following the declaration, the aircraft was granted priority handling and subsequently completed a normal landing at the aerodrome.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight commander's report alongside information provided by the TAP Flight Safety Office. The commander's report justified the emergency declaration by stating that the crew had anticipated arriving with significantly lower fuel levels than planned. However, the airline's internal safety office provided a different perspective, indicating that the incident stemmed from a misinterpretation of the company's fuel policy, specifically regarding the permitted duration of holding patterns.
Findings
- The primary cause of the emergency declaration was a misunderstanding of the established fuel policy regarding holding times.
- There was a discrepancy between the pilot's perception of fuel reserves and the actual operational limits defined by the operator's procedures.