An MD80 flight crew allows ground refueling to occur without having maintenance personnel open the rear airstairs for possible passenger egress at lbb, tx.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	468370
Time
Date	200004
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lbb.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	468370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	468371
Events
Anomaly	cabin event other maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : company policies non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance Environmental Factor Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Diverted to lbb. We were third MD80 to be refueled. Both previous MD80's had their aft airstairs lowered for refueling, as is required when passenger onboard. Ground crew delivered flight plan and paperwork through cockpit window. While reviewing flight plan, noticed we were being refueled without the airstairs opened. Immediately contacted company to try and get the fueler to stop fueling. Unfortunately, the fueler was able to complete the refueling before we could get a hold of him. We assumed that since the other 2 MD80's had their airstairs lowered when refueled, that the ground personnel would lower our airstairs when they began refueling our aircraft. Next time I will try to better coordinate with ground crews who may not be familiar with our standard operating procedures. I believe the distraction of the required paperwork contributed to us missing the fuel loading. Next time, I will ask that the fueler check in with the flight crew before beginning to refuel the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 FLC ALLOWS GND REFUELING TO OCCUR WITHOUT HAVING MAINT PERSONNEL OPEN THE REAR AIRSTAIRS FOR POSSIBLE PAX EGRESS AT LBB, TX.

Narrative: DIVERTED TO LBB. WE WERE THIRD MD80 TO BE REFUELED. BOTH PREVIOUS MD80'S HAD THEIR AFT AIRSTAIRS LOWERED FOR REFUELING, AS IS REQUIRED WHEN PAX ONBOARD. GND CREW DELIVERED FLT PLAN AND PAPERWORK THROUGH COCKPIT WINDOW. WHILE REVIEWING FLT PLAN, NOTICED WE WERE BEING REFUELED WITHOUT THE AIRSTAIRS OPENED. IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED COMPANY TO TRY AND GET THE FUELER TO STOP FUELING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUELER WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE REFUELING BEFORE WE COULD GET A HOLD OF HIM. WE ASSUMED THAT SINCE THE OTHER 2 MD80'S HAD THEIR AIRSTAIRS LOWERED WHEN REFUELED, THAT THE GND PERSONNEL WOULD LOWER OUR AIRSTAIRS WHEN THEY BEGAN REFUELING OUR ACFT. NEXT TIME I WILL TRY TO BETTER COORDINATE WITH GND CREWS WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCS. I BELIEVE THE DISTR OF THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK CONTRIBUTED TO US MISSING THE FUEL LOADING. NEXT TIME, I WILL ASK THAT THE FUELER CHK IN WITH THE FLC BEFORE BEGINNING TO REFUEL THE ACFT.

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.