Narrative:

Aircraft was late to the gate and the center fuel tank was on MEL for the fuel quantity gauges being inaccurate. According to the MEL, before each flight day, the center tank needs to be sumped. Since the aircraft was needed at the gate or take a delay I signed the log as sumped tank knowing that there was still about 100-200 pounds of fuel in the tank. I did not want maintenance to take a delay. I was pressured to get the aircraft on the gate, I felt it was my sole responsibility to get it there with enough time to make its departure. What I should have done was to take the big delay and sump the tank and then put it on the gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-200 WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE CTR FUEL QUANTITY INOP AND DEFERRED BUT THE MEL SPECIAL PROC TO SUMP THE TANK WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative: ACFT WAS LATE TO THE GATE AND THE CTR FUEL TANK WAS ON MEL FOR THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES BEING INACCURATE. ACCORDING TO THE MEL, BEFORE EACH FLT DAY, THE CTR TANK NEEDS TO BE SUMPED. SINCE THE ACFT WAS NEEDED AT THE GATE OR TAKE A DELAY I SIGNED THE LOG AS SUMPED TANK KNOWING THAT THERE WAS STILL ABOUT 100-200 LBS OF FUEL IN THE TANK. I DID NOT WANT MAINT TO TAKE A DELAY. I WAS PRESSURED TO GET THE ACFT ON THE GATE, I FELT IT WAS MY SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT THERE WITH ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE ITS DEP. WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS TO TAKE THE BIG DELAY AND SUMP THE TANK AND THEN PUT IT ON THE GATE.

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.