B-737 crew reported a malfunction of a center tank fuel pump during cruise flight in addition to a previously deferred center fuel pump rendered the center tank fuel unusable for the flight. They diverted; refueled the main tanks; then flew to the original destination.
Synopsis
B-737 crew reported a malfunction of a center tank fuel pump during cruise flight in addition to a previously deferred center fuel pump rendered the center tank fuel unusable for the flight. They diverted; refueled the main tanks; then flew to the original destination.
Narrative
On the flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ the right center fuel tank fuel boost pump was deferred. We complied with the MEL on the ground; checking the light and the pump for the left center tank fuel pump. After takeoff the left center tank fuel pump was turned on and cross feed valve was opened per the MEL. The low pressure light for the left pump illuminated and did not extinguish. We closed the crossfeed valve and turned the pump off. Upon leveling at our cruise altitude we repeated the MEL procedure and got the same low pressure indication. We determined that the left center tank fuel pump was inoperative; leaving us with 5200lbs of unusable fuel in the center tank. The captain and I began to run fuel calculations and notified dispatch of the problem. The three of us determined that with holding for all aircraft going to ZZZ due to approaching weather; we did not have adequate fuel to get to ZZZ and then our alternate and still have minimum reserves left. Our crew determined that safest option was to divert to ZZZ2. We diverted and landed there without incident. Once on the ground we contacted dispatch and maintenance. Maintenance had us defer the left center tank fuel boost pump. We were fueled with the appropriate amount of fuel in the wing tanks to get to ZZZ. We took-off from ZZZ2 and landed in ZZZ without incident.
Second reporter narrative
While enroute to ZZZ; we were operating with an mel'd center tank fuel pump. Upon selecting the second pump we found that it was not working either. Because we were depedent on the center tank fuel to safely continue to ZZZ (they were going into holding; due to thunderstorms in the area); we coordinated with dispatch and decided we did not have enough fuel to continue to ZZZ; and diverted to our filed alternate of ZZZ2. We diverted to ZZZ2; and arrived uneventfully.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.