<< >> NASA ASRS Report 505935, March 2001

A B727-200 on descent at 16000 ft #1 engine fuel flow fluctuated then tripped the fuel flow circuit breaker causing loss of all fuel flow indicators.

Attributes
ACN	505935
Time
Date	200103
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den.tower
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : den.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 375
ASRS Report	505935
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : circuit breaker tripped other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During descent out of 17000 ft, we noted a fluctuating fuel flow for #1. Subsequently went to zero and popped the circuit breaker causing all 3 fuel flow gauges to go to zero. All other engine instruments were operating normal. Reset circuit breaker once and it popped again in 15-20 seconds. Did not reset circuit breaker again. Asked for expedited handling and landed runway 26 den, no problems. However, got some odor of electrical smoke at about 500 ft -- very slight, but noticed by all 3 pilots. Flight attendants smelled nothing. Smell went away after landing. Tower/approach had rolled the trucks and we asked them to follow until we had checked with flight attendants. Told ground that we no longer needed assistance, but they followed to gate. Maintenance suspects bad fuel flow PCU.

Related reports:

• A cessna 206 H in climb altimeter fluctuated 800 ft up and d...
• A B767-300's right engine egt fluctuated from 1;100 to zero ...
• Captain reports a master warning left engine oil press messa...
• Air carrier captain reported the oil quantity fluctuated dur...
• The aircraft had just come back from repair for an oil leak ...
• A B747-400 flight crew on an international route reported no...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 ON DSCNT AT 16000 FT #1 ENG FUEL FLOW FLUCTUATED THEN TRIPPED THE FUEL FLOW CIRCUIT BREAKER CAUSING LOSS OF ALL FUEL FLOW INDICATORS.

Narrative: DURING DSCNT OUT OF 17000 FT, WE NOTED A FLUCTUATING FUEL FLOW FOR #1. SUBSEQUENTLY WENT TO ZERO AND POPPED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER CAUSING ALL 3 FUEL FLOW GAUGES TO GO TO ZERO. ALL OTHER ENG INSTS WERE OPERATING NORMAL. RESET CIRCUIT BREAKER ONCE AND IT POPPED AGAIN IN 15-20 SECONDS. DID NOT RESET CIRCUIT BREAKER AGAIN. ASKED FOR EXPEDITED HANDLING AND LANDED RWY 26 DEN, NO PROBS. HOWEVER, GOT SOME ODOR OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE AT ABOUT 500 FT -- VERY SLIGHT, BUT NOTICED BY ALL 3 PLTS. FLT ATTENDANTS SMELLED NOTHING. SMELL WENT AWAY AFTER LNDG. TWR/APCH HAD ROLLED THE TRUCKS AND WE ASKED THEM TO FOLLOW UNTIL WE HAD CHKED WITH FLT ATTENDANTS. TOLD GND THAT WE NO LONGER NEEDED ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY FOLLOWED TO GATE. MAINT SUSPECTS BAD FUEL FLOW PCU.

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.