CAPT CHOSE TO CLASSIFY EXCESS FUEL ABOVE STIPULATED LIMIT FOR AN LGT 3 ENG ACFT; WITH A FUEL GAUGE INOP; AS PAYLOAD FUEL. THIS PROC WAS AGREED UPON BY THE DISPATCHER AND INITIALLY BY AN FAA INSPECTOR MAKING AN ENRTE SURVEILLANCE INSPECTION. HOWEVER; THE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT HE WAS CONTEMPLATING VIOLATION ACTION AFTER THE FLT.

Date: 1997-05 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|other-unspecified

Synopsis

CAPT CHOSE TO CLASSIFY EXCESS FUEL ABOVE STIPULATED LIMIT FOR AN LGT 3 ENG ACFT; WITH A FUEL GAUGE INOP; AS PAYLOAD FUEL. THIS PROC WAS AGREED UPON BY THE DISPATCHER AND INITIALLY BY AN FAA INSPECTOR MAKING AN ENRTE SURVEILLANCE INSPECTION. HOWEVER; THE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT HE WAS CONTEMPLATING VIOLATION ACTION AFTER THE FLT.

Narrative

CAPT ADDED FUEL TO A TOTAL OF 36800 LBS (DUE TO TSTM FORECAST). GOT ON BOARD THE ACFT AND DISCOVERED AN MEL ITEM WITH FUEL GAUGE INOP OF FUEL TO BE 34500 LBS. CAPT DECIDED TO DEFUEL ACFT; BUT DELAYS BECAME EXTENSIVE. CAPT THEN DECIDED TO COORDINATE WITH DISPATCHER AND MAKE EXCESS FUEL AS 'PAYLOAD' FUEL -- DO NOT BURN. ACFT DEPARTED GATE AND FLEW SAFELY AND UNEVENTFULLY TO ITS DEST. NO FARS WERE BROKEN -- SAFETY NOT COMPROMISED; WITH FUEL PROB. PROB: FAA INSPECTOR DOING AN ENRTE CHK WHILE RIDING HOME. FAA INSPECTOR STOOD UP IN COCKPIT AND 'DEMANDED TO KNOW' WHAT THE CAPT WAS GOING TO DO WITH EXCESS FUEL. FAA INSPECTOR WAS ACTING AS IF 'HE' WERE THE ONLY 'PERFECT' PERSON ON THE PLANET AND 'HE' WAS 'MR FAA' HERE TO 'VIOLATE' YOU IF EVERYTHING WASN'T PERFECT. CAPT AND HIS DISPATCHER AGREED TO MAKE THE EXCESS FUEL -- PAYLOAD FUEL -- WITH INSPECTOR (FAA) CONCURRENCE. ENRTE; FAA INSPECTOR BOASTED OF GIVING OUT VIOLATIONS TO HIS FRIENDS. AND ALSO FAA INSPECTOR WAS UNHAPPY ABOUT PREVIOUS ACR X CAPT'S WRITING A CAPT RPT STATING THAT FAA INSPECTOR HAD CAUSED A DELAY OF OTHER ACR X ACFT. FAA INSPECTOR SEEMS TO BE 'PREDATORY' IN HIS ROLE AS FAA INSPECTOR. HE CAUSED TENSENESS AND DISRUPTION EXCESSIVELY IN COCKPIT.

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