PLT OF LJ35 VENTED FUEL ONTO RAMP AT BFI WHEN HE GOT DISTR FROM THE FUEL XFER PROC HE INITIATED TO CORRECT AN OUT OF BAL CONDITION.

2003-11 · NASA ASRS report 599574

Date: 2003-11 · Aircraft: Learjet 35 · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

PLT OF LJ35 VENTED FUEL ONTO RAMP AT BFI WHEN HE GOT DISTR FROM THE FUEL XFER PROC HE INITIATED TO CORRECT AN OUT OF BAL CONDITION.

Narrative

WHILE PREPARING THE ACFT; LR35A; FOR DEP AT BFI; I SWITCHED THE XFLOW TO OPEN AND STARTED THE R FUEL PUMP FOR XFER ABOUT 200 LBS OF FUEL TO THE L WING TO BAL THE FUEL LOAD. WHILE THE FUEL WAS XFERRING; I OBTAINED OUR OUTBOUND IFR CLRNC TO ICT AND PROCEEDED TO PROGRAM THE FLT PLAN INTO THE FMS. I THEN WENT INTO THE FBO FACILITY AT BFI TO USE THE RESTROOM AND GREET MY PAX. WHEN I LOOKED OUT AT THE ACFT ABOUT 7 MINS LATER; THERE WAS FUEL VENTING OUT OF THE L TIP TANK. IMMEDIATELY; I REALIZED WHAT I'D DONE AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE ACFT AND SWITCHED OFF THE R PUMP AND TURNED THE L PUMP ON. THE VENTING FUEL STOPPED AND I REMAINED WITH THE ACFT UNTIL THE FUEL SYS WAS BALANCED. THE TOTAL FUEL SPILLED ONTO THE FUEL RAMP TOTALED ABOUT 3-4 GALS. THE L TIP TANK HAD BECOME FULL AND AS THE PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN WAS VENTING FUEL OVER-BOARD. SOME POINTS ABOUT THE FUEL SYS ARE THAT THERE IS NO VISUAL OR AUDIO REMINDER THAT FUEL XFER OPS ARE UNDERWAY. WHEN I GOT BUSY WITH OTHER PREPARATIONS; I FORGOT THAT I WAS XFERRING FUEL. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW THAT FUEL IS MOVING IS TO CHK THE SWITCHES AND MONITOR THE FUEL GAUGES CONTINUOUSLY. BY FORGETTING THAT FUEL WAS XFERRING; I CREATED AN IMBAL IN THE FUEL LOAD AND SPILLED ABOUT 3-4 GALS. THESE PROBS WERE EASILY CORRECTED AND CREATED NO PROB OR DELAY IN OUR DEP. I THEN LEARNED THAT WHEN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEAR 35 FUEL SYS; IT DEMANDS CONTINUOUS ATTN. I WILL DO MY BEST TO NEVER LET THIS OCCUR AGAIN. AS A CAPT; I'LL ALSO WARN OTHERS OF THIS DANGER. IN MY 4 YRS AS A CAPT ON THE LEAR; THIS IS MY FIRST MISTAKE WITH THE FUEL SYS AND I DO NOT INTEND TO REPEAT THIS AGAIN.

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

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