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GA small aircraft requests straight in approach because of fluctuating fuel gauge and questionable fuel remaining.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 141444 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199004 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : pdx |
| State Reference | OR |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : pdx tracon : csg |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Route In Use | approach : straight in |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 |
| ASRS Report | 141444 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Descending into pdx, one of my fuel gauges began to flicker. My calculations estimated :30 of fuel, but the flickering gauge made it difficult to confirm. I requested priority because of fuel for an approach to pdx if it would not interrupt their traffic. Approach gave me an immediate straight in approach. They also asked my estimated fuel state. Not knowing for sure, I said at least :15. The approach and landing were completed west/O incident. Pdx responded superbly and should be commended for their professional conduct, even though I had not declared minimum fuel or an emergency.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: GA SMA REQUESTS STRAIGHT IN APCH BECAUSE OF FLUCTUATING FUEL GAUGE AND QUESTIONABLE FUEL REMAINING.
Narrative: DSNDING INTO PDX, ONE OF MY FUEL GAUGES BEGAN TO FLICKER. MY CALCULATIONS ESTIMATED :30 OF FUEL, BUT THE FLICKERING GAUGE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONFIRM. I REQUESTED PRIORITY BECAUSE OF FUEL FOR AN APCH TO PDX IF IT WOULD NOT INTERRUPT THEIR TFC. APCH GAVE ME AN IMMEDIATE STRAIGHT IN APCH. THEY ALSO ASKED MY ESTIMATED FUEL STATE. NOT KNOWING FOR SURE, I SAID AT LEAST :15. THE APCH AND LNDG WERE COMPLETED W/O INCIDENT. PDX RESPONDED SUPERBLY AND SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL OR AN EMER.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.