AN ACR MLG PLT COMPLAINS ABOUT HIS COMPANY'S NEW REFUELING PROC.

Date: 1993-07 · Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe

Synopsis

AN ACR MLG PLT COMPLAINS ABOUT HIS COMPANY'S NEW REFUELING PROC.

Narrative

ACR CHANGED ITS POLICY AS FAR AS A FUEL SLIP; REQUIRED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CAPT BEFORE PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE. WE SUPPOSEDLY REFUELED IN PIT TO FLY TO LEX AS FLT NUMBER X. THE AGENT ASKED IF WE HAD 15100 LBS FOR OUR RELEASE FUEL. I TESTED THE GAUGES; THE FO CONFIRMED THE AMOUNT CORRECT; I CONFIRMED THE AMOUNT AS 15100 LBS AND WE LEFT. WE ARRIVED IN LEX. DURING SHUTDOWN TO GND PWR; ONE OF OUR PWR TRANSFER RELAY SWITCHES HUNG UP CAUSING OUR FUEL GAUGES TO BECOME ERRATIC AND THE ACARS SYS TO BECOME INOP. WE SUBMITTED A PIECE OF PAPER TO THE GATE AGENT IN LEX WITH OUR ARR TIMES AND FUEL REMAINING OF 5100 LBS. WE WERE ON A MINIMUM OVERNIGHT AND I ELECTED TO SOLVE ANY MORE OF THIS PROB IN THE MORNING BEFORE DEP. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE AIRPLANE; THE FUELER TOLD US THAT THERE WAS ONLY 2800-2900 LBS OF FUEL ON BOARD. WE PWRED UP THE ACFT; WHICH TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF THE RELAYS STICKING; BUT THERE WAS NOT ANY CHANGE IN THE FUEL GAUGES. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT THE FUELER PUT ON THE PLANE PLUS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON THE GAUGES EQUALED OUR RELEASE FUEL. THE AIRPLANE ELECTRICAL SYS FINALLY STABILIZED; OUR FUEL LOAD CHKED NORMALLY AND WE FLEW TO PIT WITHOUT ANY MORE PROBS. WE NOTIFIED THE NEXT CREW THAT WE HAD THIS ELECTRICAL AND FUEL PROB. WE ELECTED NOT TO WRITE UP ANY OF THE PROB IN THE LOGBOOK BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING NORMALLY; BUT DID WANT THE NEXT CREW TO KNOW OF OUR SIT AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. WE BELIEVE THAT IF A FUEL SLIP WAS ONCE AGAIN REQUIRED BEFORE DEP; THAT THAT WOULD PULL THE FUELER BACK INTO THE 'LOOP' AND THERE WOULD BE A CHK AND BAL SIT WITH THE GAUGES. THE ONLY CHK THAT WE HAVE NOW IS A CHKLIST TO LOOK AT AND TEST THE GAUGES. IF THE GAUGES SAY THAT THE CORRECT FUEL LOAD IS SHOWING; THEN YOU GO. WE DID THE CORRECT PROC; WE HAD 15100 LBS; WE WENT. I DON'T BELIEVE THE PROPER FUEL WAS ON THE PLANE.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.