B737 crew dispatches without proper fuel for fuel boost pump MEL item.

Attributes
ACN	494731
Time
Date	200012
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	494731
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 5500
ASRS Report	494730
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Captain noticed #1 fuel tank forward boost pump low pressure light flickered. Event happened a couple times. Logbook contained previous repeat gripe from nov/00. Maintenance had cleaned cannon plug to clear gripe. Captain wrote pump light up at mdw and maintenance MEL 28-1 with tracking number. I reviewed MEL in opc and noted minimal fuel requirement would be met both at takeoff and landing. Pump was working properly. It was important to have maintenance review the gripe to determine if further action would be required, making sure the documentation had been reviewed. In the distractions of boarding, we forgot to call dispatch to get verbal amendment to release prior to takeoff. Realized our mistake en route to cle and captain called dispatch at cle. Release to cle-bwi flight included 28-1 MEL and 4000 pounds additional fuel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW DISPATCHES WITHOUT PROPER FUEL FOR FUEL BOOST PUMP MEL ITEM.

Narrative: CAPT NOTICED #1 FUEL TANK FORWARD BOOST PUMP LOW PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKERED. EVENT HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES. LOGBOOK CONTAINED PREVIOUS REPEAT GRIPE FROM NOV/00. MAINT HAD CLEANED CANNON PLUG TO CLR GRIPE. CAPT WROTE PUMP LIGHT UP AT MDW AND MAINT MEL 28-1 WITH TRACKING NUMBER. I REVIEWED MEL IN OPC AND NOTED MINIMAL FUEL REQUIREMENT WOULD BE MET BOTH AT TKOF AND LNDG. PUMP WAS WORKING PROPERLY. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE MAINT REVIEW THE GRIPE TO DETERMINE IF FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE REQUIRED, MAKING SURE THE DOCUMENTATION HAD BEEN REVIEWED. IN THE DISTRACTIONS OF BOARDING, WE FORGOT TO CALL DISPATCH TO GET VERBAL AMENDMENT TO RELEASE PRIOR TO TKOF. REALIZED OUR MISTAKE ENRTE TO CLE AND CAPT CALLED DISPATCH AT CLE. RELEASE TO CLE-BWI FLT INCLUDED 28-1 MEL AND 4000 LBS ADDITIONAL FUEL.

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.