Fuel indication problem caused a divert land.

Attributes
ACN	291807
Time
Date	199412
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	291807
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	291406
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After takeoff, I conducted a fuel quantity test and observed that the fuel quantity needles did not move. I also noticed that the #2 fuel quantity gauge read 1000 pounds less than the #1 and #3 gauges. I notified the captain, the cockpit crew discussed the problem and checked all circuit breakers normal, normal xfeed operation and visually checked for possible fuel dump or leaks. We notified dispatch of our intent to divert to slc as we felt the dual fuel problem warranted the precautionary landing. On landing the mechanics found the fueling switch in the on position with the safety cover open. I specifically remember performing the fuel quantity test during my preflight checks and the system checked normally. The mechanics felt that the switch had not fully seated after fueling and failed open after takeoff from normal air frame vibration.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FUEL INDICATION PROB CAUSED A DIVERT LAND.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF, I CONDUCTED A FUEL QUANTITY TEST AND OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL QUANTITY NEEDLES DID NOT MOVE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE #2 FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE READ 1000 LBS LESS THAN THE #1 AND #3 GAUGES. I NOTIFIED THE CAPT, THE COCKPIT CREW DISCUSSED THE PROB AND CHKED ALL CIRCUIT BREAKERS NORMAL, NORMAL XFEED OP AND VISUALLY CHKED FOR POSSIBLE FUEL DUMP OR LEAKS. WE NOTIFIED DISPATCH OF OUR INTENT TO DIVERT TO SLC AS WE FELT THE DUAL FUEL PROB WARRANTED THE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. ON LNDG THE MECHS FOUND THE FUELING SWITCH IN THE ON POS WITH THE SAFETY COVER OPEN. I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER PERFORMING THE FUEL QUANTITY TEST DURING MY PREFLT CHKS AND THE SYS CHKED NORMALLY. THE MECHS FELT THAT THE SWITCH HAD NOT FULLY SEATED AFTER FUELING AND FAILED OPEN AFTER TKOF FROM NORMAL AIR FRAME VIBRATION.

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.