2010-09 · NASA ASRS report 910079
B767 flight crew was informed of fuel leaking from a wing cap at FL310. After discussions with maintenance it was decided to return to their departure airport for an overweight landing and repairs.
I was the Check Airman occupying the right seat. A passenger noticed fuel streaming from the top of the left wing. Flight attendants called us. The relief pilot just started break so we had him look at it and he saw fuel streaming from the top of the wing around the fuel cap. I pulled out the fuel leak checklist and got Maintenance and Dispatch on a conference call. I worked through the checklist and requested the relief pilot return to the flight deck. When he returned he said the leak stopped. We had taken off with the tank full 141;000 LBS for ZZZZ as an alternate. Dispatch and us contemplated pressing on since all we had was a 500 LBS difference between tanks and it was obviously coming from a very full tank. Maintenance said no we need to return to departure airport since it was a bad seal on the tank. We discussed going to ZZZ since we were a bit closer and the checklist said land at nearest suitable but all agreed that we didn't have a fuel leak any more just a return to airport for a maintenance issue. We discussed dumping fuel vs landing overweight. We all determined conditions were acceptable for an overweight landing. The relief pilot and myself worked the fuel checklist again in case we missed anything and received performance data from Dispatch. We made PA's to the passengers; kept the flight attendants informed did a cabin advisory to be safe and had the equipment standing by for landing. ATC declared an emergency for us. Since we were overweight we landed flaps 25 took the last taxiway chocked the tires and let the brakes cool. Complied with the Tow-in Checklist and returned to the blocks under tow.
Shortly after proceeding to the cabin to begin my crew rest I was informed by one of our Flight Attendants that a passenger had noticed 'liquid' coming out of the wing. I went to the Flight Attendants crew rest seat at the rear of business class and observed fuel spraying from the overwing fuel port on the left wing. There was a fine mist and a wet stain the width of the cap streaming aft across the wing with some fuel drops visible flowing across the aileron. I called the Captain and reported the situation. I made another trip to the window and observed the same flow. By now the Captain and Check Airman were discussing the situation with Maintenance and Dispatch. Approximately 10 minutes later I was summoned to the cockpit and advised that we were returning to departure airport. I went to the window once more before returning to the cockpit and noticed that the flow had stopped but a streak of fuel was still visible aft of the cap. After returning to the cockpit we were already heading back and the Check Airman who was pilot not flying in the First Officer's seat asked me to review the FUEL LEAK irregular. Since we did not have a questionable fuel leak and plenty of fuel we decided the procedure did not apply. Maintenance was of little assistance and in my opinion induced unnecessary confusion into the decision making process by getting hung up on the limits (MAX LANDING WT) vs making an overweight landing and the required inspections following such a landing.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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