Flight crew distraction by radio malfunction allowed #2 fuel tank to burn down too low.

Attributes
ACN	144386
Time
Date	199004
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 183 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 213
ASRS Report	144386
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	143977
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While xfeeding fuel the second officer became distraction by an inoperative VHF #1 radio, and an inoperative ACARS on VHF #2. Permission was granted by ATC to leave frequency several times to contact maintenance regarding replacement of our VHF radio at next landing (atlanta) to continue. All xfeeds were open and all boost pumps on. The captain noticed #2 tank reading 1500 pounds with #1 and #3 reading about 6000 each. A lower altitude was requested and granted, and flight manual procedures were reviewed including 2 engine procedures in the event of a possible flameout (which did not occur). A normal 2 engine landing was performed at atlanta by the captain. #2 tank indicated about 200 pounds at shutdown. Company large transport maintenance was informed of the exceeded limits (#2 more than 2000 pound less than #1 or #3) and proper inspection were made by maintenance at atlanta with no problems found. Supplemental information from acn 143977. This incident occurred at the end of a 4 day trip, a 12 hour plus day, with no opportunity for the flight crew to have a adequate rest period or time to eat during duty hours. Supplemental information from acn 144486. Captain placed much emphasis on reporting on discrepancies previous 2 days, west/O regard to seriousness of problem. Second officer, new, still on probation, in his zeal to please captain, became preoccupied with problem of reaching maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW DISTR BY RADIO MALFUNCTION ALLOWED #2 FUEL TANK TO BURN DOWN TOO LOW.

Narrative: WHILE XFEEDING FUEL THE S/O BECAME DISTR BY AN INOPERATIVE VHF #1 RADIO, AND AN INOPERATIVE ACARS ON VHF #2. PERMISSION WAS GRANTED BY ATC TO LEAVE FREQ SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT MAINT REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF OUR VHF RADIO AT NEXT LNDG (ATLANTA) TO CONTINUE. ALL XFEEDS WERE OPEN AND ALL BOOST PUMPS ON. THE CAPT NOTICED #2 TANK READING 1500 LBS WITH #1 AND #3 READING ABOUT 6000 EACH. A LOWER ALT WAS REQUESTED AND GRANTED, AND FLT MANUAL PROCS WERE REVIEWED INCLUDING 2 ENG PROCS IN THE EVENT OF A POSSIBLE FLAMEOUT (WHICH DID NOT OCCUR). A NORMAL 2 ENG LNDG WAS PERFORMED AT ATLANTA BY THE CAPT. #2 TANK INDICATED ABOUT 200 LBS AT SHUTDOWN. COMPANY LGT MAINT WAS INFORMED OF THE EXCEEDED LIMITS (#2 MORE THAN 2000 LB LESS THAN #1 OR #3) AND PROPER INSPECTION WERE MADE BY MAINT AT ATLANTA WITH NO PROBS FOUND. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 143977. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE END OF A 4 DAY TRIP, A 12 HR PLUS DAY, WITH NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLT CREW TO HAVE A ADEQUATE REST PERIOD OR TIME TO EAT DURING DUTY HRS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 144486. CAPT PLACED MUCH EMPHASIS ON RPTING ON DISCREPANCIES PREVIOUS 2 DAYS, W/O REGARD TO SERIOUSNESS OF PROB. S/O, NEW, STILL ON PROBATION, IN HIS ZEAL TO PLEASE CAPT, BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH PROB OF REACHING MAINT.

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.