B737 MAX 8 flight crew reported a Fuel Imbalance condition in cruise. The flight crew ran the QRH and Check lists and performed an in flight shut down of the #1 Engine for a Fuel Leak. The flight crew diverted to the nearest suitable airport.
Synopsis
B737 MAX 8 flight crew reported a Fuel Imbalance condition in cruise. The flight crew ran the QRH and Check lists and performed an in flight shut down of the #1 Engine for a Fuel Leak. The flight crew diverted to the nearest suitable airport.
Narrative
I was the Captain and Pilot Flying on Aircraft X; ZZZ1 to ZZZ. Between fixes ZZZZZ and ZZZZZ1; and the Fuel Disagree Light Illuminated. The Fuel Disagree QRH Checklist was completed. A Fuel Leak was suspected and visually verified by the A Flight Attendant. The Fuel Leak Engine QRH Checklist was completed and resulted in shutting down #1 Engine. Dispatch was advised. ATC was advised by CPDLC. ATC issued a clearance to ZZZ2. Priority handling was requested with ATC. The One Engine Inoperative Landing QRH Checklist was completed and a single engine; Captain flown; landing in ZZZ2 was completed without further incident. Brake cooling calculations were completed; ARFF checked the aircraft brakes and cleared the aircraft to proceed. Brake Cooling results indicated; Proceed to the gate. We taxied to the gate and deplaned.Threats: 1. I only flew with the First Officer for two legs prior to the event leg. Company Standard procedures precluded this from becoming an issue.2. QRH ambiguity. FUEL DISAGREE does not account for fuel remaining in the center tank. An imbalance will not occur with center tank fuel remaining.3. QRH procedure. FUEL LEAK ENGINE; A change in fuel imbalance of 500 lbs. within 30 minutes or less. We chose to evaluate the fuel split for 10 minutes and determined the volumetric flow rate of the leak was equivalent or greater than 500 lbs./30 minutes; thus confirming the leak 20 minutes earlier than if we had waited the entire 30 minutes like the QRH implies.4. Once we cleared the runway in ZZZ2 and were inspected by Fire Rescue; we were given a clearance to taxi to the gate. During the entire taxi time; Airport Operations Personnel continuously transmitted on Ground frequency seemingly to coordinate vehicular movement. This was an unnecessary distraction to us; because we thought the transmissions could potentially involve the movement of our aircraft. 5. After the Fire Rescue cleared us to taxi to the gate; Ground Control issued us the following clearance: 'Aircraft X; taxi XX; XY; XZ to the gate. Had we taxied immediately; our right wing would have contacted the fire truck parked on the south side of Taxiway XX. We queried Ground Control about the fire truck position. Ground Control specifically instructed the fire truck to start moving so we could proceed. We then proceeded to the gate.
Second reporter narrative
I was the First Officer and Pilot Monitoring on Aircraft X; ZZZ1 to ZZZ. We were between ZZZZZ and ZZZZZ1; when the Fuel Disagree Light Illuminated. The Captain called for the QRH; and The Fuel Disagree QRH Checklist was completed. A fuel leak was suspected and visually verified by the A Flight Attendant. The Fuel Leak Engine QRH Checklist was completed we shut down the #1 Engine. Dispatch was advised. ATC was advised through CPDLC and we requested priority handling. ATC issued a clearance to ZZZ2. Priority handling was also requested on both XXX.XX and XXX.XY. The One Engine Inoperative Landing QRH Checklist was completed. The Captain kept the Flight Attendants and Passengers informed throughout the flight. The Captain executed a nice and uneventful single engine landing in ZZZ2. Brake cooling calculations were completed; Fire Rescue Personnel checked the aircraft brakes and cleared the aircraft to proceed. Brake cooling results indicated: proceed to the gate. We obtained taxi clearance and taxied to the gate. The Passengers were deplaned; and their luggage was offloaded. 1. I am a new First Officer. I flew with the Captain for two legs prior. This was not an issue due to company standards and the Calm/Professional Environment created by the Captain.2. FUEL DISAGREE does not account for fuel still remaining in the center tank. An imbalance will not occur with center tank fuel remaining and the center tank pumps on.3. QRH procedure. FUEL LEAK ENGINE; A specific change in procedure pertaining to' fuel imbalance of 500 lbs. within 30 minutes or less.' We decided to not wait for a 500 lb. imbalance and computed numbers for 10 minutes. This allowed us to confirm the leak 20 minutes and over 300 lbs. sooner.4. Prior to landing; we requested Fire Rescue to be present for our landing. After landing; we were cleared to exit the Runway on Taxiway XX. We requested to be inspected by Fire Rescue and exited the runway onto XX. We informed Ground Control that our right engine was running. Ground Control informed us that Fire Rescue was monitoring Ground Control Frequency and that we could communicate with them on Ground Control. We were able to monitor constant communication between Fire Rescue Personnel and Ground Control; but we never established communications with an on scene Commander or any Fire Rescue Personnel. I was very concerned with the potential of someone being pulled into the operating engine; or run over.We mitigated this by counting Personnel. Fire Rescue reported to Ground Control that there was no threat of a Brake Fire and that a vehicle would follow us to our gate. We were given a taxi clearance to the gate; but there were two ARFF that were in the path of our Right Wing. Ground Control was notified and the vehicles were promptly moved. During the entire taxi; Airport Operations Personnel continuously transmitted on Ground frequency to coordinate vehicular movement. This was an unnecessary distraction and could have interfered with follow on emergent requests.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.