B737 flight crew reported a fuel imbalance due to possible fuel leak developed during climb. Flight crew was unable to rectify the problem and returned to departure airport.
Synopsis
B737 flight crew reported a fuel imbalance due to possible fuel leak developed during climb. Flight crew was unable to rectify the problem and returned to departure airport.
Narrative
Climbing through 20000 ft.; got an IMBAL light. Still had center tank fuel and 6 fuel pumps on. The left totalizer was decreasing at a much more rapid rate than right side. Opened checklist and determined had a fuel leak due to imbalance; fuel totalizer decreasing rapidly (NG Fuel Leak-Engine checklist has these 2 as reasons for a suspected fuel leak). In addition; after getting thru step 4 of the checklist; center fuel was now zero and we were about 1400 lbs below HOWGOESIT fuel for no apparent reason. The imbalance stabilized at about 1000 lb difference between left and right (with the center fuel now zero); and checklist paused at step 11 (engine shutdown) because leak was now not confirmed. Had FA's (Flight Attendants) check out window and no visual leak could be seen. At this point; conferenced Dispatch and Maintenance Control; and it was determined best course of action was to not shutdown engine #1. Uneventful return to original base of ZZZ. Had fire trucks visually confirm no leak after landing. Uneventful taxi to park and deplane. ATC [gave priority handling] early in the process and received traffic priority and vectors back to ZZZ. Dispatch and Maintenance notified at a pause in the checklist. FA's notified during the checklist to visually check for leak. A briefing given during this time. Passengers addressed about this issue twice during flight; and again on ground when rescue vehicle in vicinity of aircraft.
Second reporter narrative
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.