The pilot of a gulfstream g-iv reported a fuel leak from the left wing that resulted in a return to ...

Attributes
ACN	1350571
Time
Date	201604
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Gulfstream IV / G350 / G450
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Storage System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

After departing and climbing out at 13000 ft we noticed an unusual spray of fuel coming from left wing. At the same time several passengers alerted us to same. I could see the spray from the mirror in the cockpit and instructed the sic to go back and look from the left rear window. He confirmed that we were indeed spraying fuel off the left wing. We asked ATC for an altitude hold while we troubleshoot the situation and make a call to maintenance. The spray was heavy; then light; then nonexistent then heavy again. I made the decision to return back to the departure airport as a precautionary measure. We were slightly overweight and requested a hold for several minutes while we burned off enough fuel for a safe landing weight. During this time there was no further fuel spray that could be seen visually. ATC was very helpful although no emergency was declared or necessary. We returned uneventfully and landed. Maintenance met us at the FBO.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The pilot of a Gulfstream G-IV reported a fuel leak from the left wing that resulted in a return to the field. It was later determined that a fuel system check valve was stuck open and venting fuel overboard.

Narrative: After departing and climbing out at 13000 ft we noticed an unusual spray of fuel coming from left wing. At the same time several passengers alerted us to same. I could see the spray from the mirror in the cockpit and instructed the SIC to go back and look from the left rear window. He confirmed that we were indeed spraying fuel off the left wing. We asked ATC for an altitude hold while we troubleshoot the situation and make a call to maintenance. The spray was heavy; then light; then nonexistent then heavy again. I made the decision to return back to the departure airport as a precautionary measure. We were slightly overweight and requested a hold for several minutes while we burned off enough fuel for a safe landing weight. During this time there was no further fuel spray that could be seen visually. ATC was very helpful although no emergency was declared or necessary. We returned uneventfully and landed. Maintenance met us at the FBO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

The pilot of a gulfstream g-iv reported a fuel leak from the left wing that resulted in a return to the field. It was later determined that a fuel system check valve was stuck open and venting fuel overboard.