A B757-200 pilot in command reports on the inadequacies of the MEL regarding measuring stick use for inoperative main fuel gauges, noting that necessary ground support equipment was not found at SNA, CA, or ORD, IL.
Synopsis
A B757-200 pilot in command reports on the inadequacies of the MEL regarding measuring stick use for inoperative main fuel gauges, noting that necessary ground support equipment was not found at SNA, CA, or ORD, IL.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
Trip ORD to SNA scheduled for XA50 departure. Logbook was placarded L main fuel quantity gauge. MEL states that after each refueling the total fuel quantity in all tanks containing fuel is verified by measuring sticks. MEL goes on to state that placards will be installed on captain's instrument panel and on the wing fueling panel to read 'fuel quantity in all tanks containing fuel must be verified by measuring sticks and verified by cockpit crew members.'
Verification by measuring sticks is not a realistic, timely option -- at least in ORD and SNA. Aircraft must be 0 degrees pitch and roll using aircraft inclinometer and a plumb bob. No such plumb bob could be found in either ORD or SNA. Using measuring sticks is quick and straightforward but verifying aircraft pitch and roll to 0 degrees is not timely or realistic. I feel the procedure in the MEL is not clear nor necessarily correct. I believe I made a mistake using the crossfeed system to empty and refill the L main tank to verify quantity.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
TRIP ORD TO SNA SCHEDULED FOR XA50 DEP. LOGBOOK WAS PLACARDED L MAIN FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE. MEL STATES THAT AFTER EACH REFUELING THE TOTAL FUEL QUANTITY IN ALL TANKS CONTAINING FUEL IS VERIFIED BY MEASURING STICKS. MEL GOES ON TO STATE THAT PLACARDS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAPT'S INST PANEL AND ON THE WING FUELING PANEL TO READ 'FUEL QUANTITY IN ALL TANKS CONTAINING FUEL MUST BE VERIFIED BY MEASURING STICKS AND VERIFIED BY COCKPIT CREW MEMBERS.' VERIFICATION BY MEASURING STICKS IS NOT A REALISTIC; TIMELY OPTION -- AT LEAST IN ORD AND SNA. ACFT MUST BE 0 DEGS PITCH AND ROLL USING ACFT INCLINOMETER AND A PLUMB BOB. NO SUCH PLUMB BOB COULD BE FOUND IN EITHER ORD OR SNA. USING MEASURING STICKS IS QUICK AND STRAIGHT FORWARD BUT VERIFYING ACFT PITCH AND ROLL TO 0 DEGS IS NOT TIMELY OR REALISTIC. I FEEL THE PROC IN THE MEL IS NOT CLR NOR NECESSARILY CORRECT. I BELIEVE I MADE A MISTAKE USING THE XFEED SYS TO EMPTY AND REFILL THE L MAIN TANK TO VERIFY QUANTITY.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.