FLC OF AN MLG TOOK OFF WITH LESS FUEL THAN PLANNED AND SHOWN ON DISPATCH RELEASE. ERROR NOTED DURING HIGH ALT CRUISE. RECALCULATED FUEL REQUIREMENT SHOWED SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR DEST AND RESERVES WHICH PROOFED OUT AFTER LNDG.

Date: 1998-02 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

FLC OF AN MLG TOOK OFF WITH LESS FUEL THAN PLANNED AND SHOWN ON DISPATCH RELEASE. ERROR NOTED DURING HIGH ALT CRUISE. RECALCULATED FUEL REQUIREMENT SHOWED SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR DEST AND RESERVES WHICH PROOFED OUT AFTER LNDG.

Narrative

TKOF WITH LESS THAN DISPATCH FUEL LOAD. REQUIRED 15100 LBS; ACTUAL 12100 LBS. IN CLB; NOTE FUEL GAUGES APPEARED TO READ LESS THAN EXPECTED FOR THAT PHASE OF FLT. CHKED GAUGES AND REQUIRED FUEL LOAD AND DISCOVERED A 3000 LB DIFFERENCE. COMPUTED BURNOFF TO THAT POINT TO CONFIRM. I RECALL FUEL TOTAL IN CHOCKS WAS 12100 LBS AND USED THAT AS BASE LINE. CALL BOS OPS TO CONFIRM FUELING. THEY SAID WE HAD BEEN FUELED TO 15100 LBS. WE RECHKED OUR FIGURES AND THE FUEL GAUGES AND COULD NOT AGREE IT POINTED TO AT 12100 LB FUEL LOAD. ATTEMPTED A PHONE PATCH WITH SEVERAL OPS STATIONS BOS-PVD-LGA-PHL AND COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ANY. TRIED COMMERCIAL RADIO; NO SIDE TONE. USED ACARS TO TYPE MESSAGE. WE ASKED DISPATCHER TO RERELEASE US WITH 12100 LBS; HE COULD NOT. WE ADVISED HIM IT LOOKED LIKE WE WOULD ARRIVE DCA WITH REQUIRED FUEL RESERVE. HE THOUGHT WE HAD FUEL GAUGE PROBS AND ASKED WE DIVERT TO PHL. WE ASSURED HIM GAUGES WERE OK AND WE WOULD ARRIVE DCA WITH 4000 LBS OR MORE FUEL -- WELL WITHIN THE REQUIRED RESERVE OF 3500 LBS. HE CONCURRED WE COULD CONTINUE. LNDG WAS MADE WITH 4700 LBS. NO EMER WAS DECLARED NOR ANY SPECIAL HANDLING. HOWEVER; WE DID GET DIRECT ROUTING WHEN ABLE FROM ATC. WX WAS EXCELLENT IN DAYLIGHT. NO ALTERNATE WAS REQUIRED; AND WE HAD MANY ARPTS ENRTE TO DIVERT TO IF REQUIRED.

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