Aircraft fuel equipment problem fuel gauge inoperative open write-up in logbook high fuel usage.

Attributes
ACN	319089
Time
Date	199510
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 14600 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	319089
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Fuel gauge inoperative, maintenance refused to complete required paperwork due to interpretation of their operation specifications. Arrived at aircraft to find a 700 pound error in right fuel gauge. Fuel slip showed 9100 pounds, gauge read 8400 pounds. The aircraft had an open write-up for unexplained fuel consumption. I requested maintenance and fueler to return to aircraft to resolve discrepancy. Fueler checked fuel load, mechanic MEL'ed gauge and wrote in logbook 'MEL'ed per maintenance control,' would not check fuel with dripless sticks. I finally called chief pilot. He conferred with maintenance control and arrived at conclusion if gauge was working at time of fueling, then no slip with dipstick readings required. The aircraft departed after I stuck the tanks. I still cannot believe a simple thing like this can turn into a 'turf battle' between 2 departments. WX was clear and cavu en route and at destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT FUEL EQUIP PROB FUEL GAUGE INOP OPEN WRITE-UP IN LOGBOOK HIGH FUEL USAGE.

Narrative: FUEL GAUGE INOP, MAINT REFUSED TO COMPLETE REQUIRED PAPERWORK DUE TO INTERP OF THEIR OP SPECS. ARRIVED AT ACFT TO FIND A 700 LB ERROR IN R FUEL GAUGE. FUEL SLIP SHOWED 9100 LBS, GAUGE READ 8400 LBS. THE ACFT HAD AN OPEN WRITE-UP FOR UNEXPLAINED FUEL CONSUMPTION. I REQUESTED MAINT AND FUELER TO RETURN TO ACFT TO RESOLVE DISCREPANCY. FUELER CHKED FUEL LOAD, MECH MEL'ED GAUGE AND WROTE IN LOGBOOK 'MEL'ED PER MAINT CTL,' WOULD NOT CHK FUEL WITH DRIPLESS STICKS. I FINALLY CALLED CHIEF PLT. HE CONFERRED WITH MAINT CTL AND ARRIVED AT CONCLUSION IF GAUGE WAS WORKING AT TIME OF FUELING, THEN NO SLIP WITH DIPSTICK READINGS REQUIRED. THE ACFT DEPARTED AFTER I STUCK THE TANKS. I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE A SIMPLE THING LIKE THIS CAN TURN INTO A 'TURF BATTLE' BTWN 2 DEPTS. WX WAS CLR AND CAVU ENRTE AND AT DEST.

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.