Narrative:

The auxiliary fuel tank had a leak. Per the aircraft maintenance manual, step 6 says to placard the auxiliary fuel tank gauge in order to monitor if fuel might be migrating into tank (tank already was deactivated per aircraft maintenance manual). The term 'placard' is associated with the use of our MEL and is industry standard terminology. I inadvertently understood it to be ok to MEL for tracking purposes since we currently have no procedures in place for tracking otherwise. After this was brought to my attention, we now have a policy to track it on an 'mco form.' we still need written procedures on how to perform this type of function for tracking this type of action on the mco form. Those procedures are being addressed right now due to this event.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9-30 HAD AN AUX FUEL TANK LEAK AND DEFERRED. BUT OPERATIVE TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR WAS PLACARDED TO OBSERVE ANY FUEL MIGRATION. CARRIER HAD NO SYS IN PLACE TO TRACK INDICATOR READINGS.

Narrative: THE AUX FUEL TANK HAD A LEAK. PER THE ACFT MAINT MANUAL, STEP 6 SAYS TO PLACARD THE AUX FUEL TANK GAUGE IN ORDER TO MONITOR IF FUEL MIGHT BE MIGRATING INTO TANK (TANK ALREADY WAS DEACTIVATED PER ACFT MAINT MANUAL). THE TERM 'PLACARD' IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF OUR MEL AND IS INDUSTRY STANDARD TERMINOLOGY. I INADVERTENTLY UNDERSTOOD IT TO BE OK TO MEL FOR TRACKING PURPOSES SINCE WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO PROCS IN PLACE FOR TRACKING OTHERWISE. AFTER THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTN, WE NOW HAVE A POLICY TO TRACK IT ON AN 'MCO FORM.' WE STILL NEED WRITTEN PROCS ON HOW TO PERFORM THIS TYPE OF FUNCTION FOR TRACKING THIS TYPE OF ACTION ON THE MCO FORM. THOSE PROCS ARE BEING ADDRESSED RIGHT NOW DUE TO THIS EVENT.

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.