<< >> NASA ASRS Report 1393399, October 2016

B737NG first officer reported experiencing a fuel filter bypass condition in one engine. Crew elected to return to departure airport.

Attributes
ACN	1393399
Time
Date	201610
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Pressure Indication
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 260 Flight Crew Type 1800
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

Departed and after leveling off at FL380 we received a master caution warning for a fuel filter bypass. We completed the QRH which indicated we could continue; however the note in the QRH indicated that we could experience erratic engine indications or a possible engine flameout. In an abundance of caution the captain and I discussed the fuel filter bypass and the possibility of fuel contamination from an international station and the fact that there is a possibility of an engine flameout; we elected to divert to the nearest suitable airport. In the interest of safety and the fact that we were continuing on with overwater ops we elected to return departure airport. The aircraft landed without further issues; although the fuel filter bypass light remained on until engine shutdown.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737NG First Officer reported experiencing a fuel filter bypass condition in one engine. Crew elected to return to departure airport.

Narrative: Departed and after leveling off at FL380 we received a master caution warning for a FUEL FILTER BYPASS. We completed the QRH which indicated we could continue; however the note in the QRH indicated that we could experience erratic engine indications or a possible engine flameout. In an abundance of caution the Captain and I discussed the FUEL FILTER BYPASS and the possibility of fuel contamination from an international station and the fact that there is a possibility of an engine flameout; we elected to divert to the nearest suitable airport. In the interest of safety and the fact that we were continuing on with overwater ops we elected to return departure airport. The aircraft landed without further issues; although the FUEL FILTER BYPASS light remained on until engine shutdown.

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.