A FLT'S PREDEP; HIGH TASK LOAD PHASE WAS HURRIED; AND RESULTED IN AN ACR PUSHBACK (FROM THE GATE) WITHOUT PROPER FUEL ON BOARD.

Date: 1995-02 · Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|other-unspecified

Synopsis

A FLT'S PREDEP; HIGH TASK LOAD PHASE WAS HURRIED; AND RESULTED IN AN ACR PUSHBACK (FROM THE GATE) WITHOUT PROPER FUEL ON BOARD.

Narrative

WE DISCOVERED WE HAD NOT BEEN FUELED DURING THE PUSHBACK PHASE OF THE FIELD. WE WERE TOWED BACK IN; TO THE GATE; TO GET OUR DISPATCH FUEL. THE RECEIVING ACFT CHK HAD BEEN COMPLETED PRIOR TO PUSHBACK. A TALKATIVE ACM WAS A DISTR. THE COPLT MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE FUEL SLIP WAS NOT ON BOARD AND I REPLIED 'WE'VE NOT BEEN FUELED.' LATER; HE WAS OCCUPIED IN GETTING A CLRNC WHEN WE WERE READY TO PUSH. I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF A PINK HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FORM AND ASSUMED IT WAS THE PINK FUEL SLIP. WITHOUT CHKING THE FUEL; OR DOING THE BEFORE PUSH CHKLIST; I TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN AND CLRED THE GND CREW TO PUSH. WHEN THE COPLT WAS DONE WITH CLRNC DELIVERY; I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS READY. HE REPLIED 'NO FUEL SLIP.' I CHKED FUEL GAUGES AND REALIZED WE HAD NOT BEEN FUELED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROB WAS NOT PROPERLY USING THE CHKLIST. SECONDARY CONSIDERATIONS WERE A DISTRACTING ACM; HVY WORKLOAD FOR THE COPLT AT A CRITICAL TIME; AND PRESSURE FROM THE COMPANY; FOR ON-TIME DEPS. THE SOLUTION IS TO USE THE CHKLISTS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES; ACCEPTING ANY DELAYS CAUSED BY SO DOING. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 296600: COPLT WAS SO BUSY COPYING CLRNC THAT I FAILED TO NOTE PUSHBACK. PLT ASKED ME IF I WAS READY TO GO THAT'S WHEN I LOOKED UP AND NOTICED WE HAD PUSHED; I TOLD THE CAPT WE WERE NOT READY; WE NEEDED OUR FUEL AND PAPER WORK ON SAME.

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