B737-700 flight crew reported a track deviation occurred while returning to departure airport following a fuel imbalance issue.
Synopsis
B737-700 flight crew reported a track deviation occurred while returning to departure airport following a fuel imbalance issue.
Narrative
Cleared to intercept LOC; while being vectored on final approach. The Flight Crew failed to do so; without notifying Approach. There was no loss of separation. ATC did accommodate the failed intercept with vectors that eventually lead to a stabilized approach and a safe landing. Distractions; threats; and task saturation that led the Flight Crew to prioritizing aviating over communication were the following:Non-Normal Fuel Imbalance that resulted in a return to departure airport situation; minutes after takeoff (1500 pounds). Running the QRH and troubleshooting for a possible fuel leak during most of the return to the field flight time. Becoming situationally aware; that landing immediately would result in max landing weight being exceeded; while simultaneously realizing that the Fuel Imbalance was no longer trending negatively. ATC's efforts to expeditiously vector Fight Crew to begin the approach; while being too high to safely do so. Notifying Flight Attendants; Passengers; and Dispatch of the issue and decision to return to the field. First flight of the day with a Cockpit Crew that had never flown together before. Fifth day of reserve with minimum sleep. The previous duty day ended hours after midnight with a 'Sound Check' and Live DJ Wedding hotel event that ended at XA30 AM. This Crew Member estimated less than four hours of sleep. The Flight Crews thoroughly debriefed the event and came to the following conclusions: The above situation may have been mitigated; had the Flight Crew better coordinated with each other and ATC. The result may have been longer vectors; to provide more time to process the increased task loading and troubleshooting; once the Crew realized that the fuel imbalance trend had been reduced and eventually reversed. Taking a pause to communicate that the overweight landing was now a higher risk (versus the fuel imbalance) may have helped ATC to aid the Flight Crew with less expeditious vectoring and thereby avoid task saturation considering the high number of threats experience in the short flight back to the originating airport.
Second reporter narrative
Encountered a sudden fuel imbalance annunciation showing 1;300 pounds difference shortly after takeoff. Made decision to return but got rushed after ATC cleared us direct to field. While running checklists and coordinating with Flight Attendants; the Captain flew through final. We immediately coordinated to get vectors and landed [uneventfully].
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.