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A B737-300 crew, shortly after takeoff from msp, received a 'using reserve fuel' prompt from the FMC, along with a low indicating right fuel tank. With the possibility of a fuel leak, a return to msp was initiated.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 562329 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200210 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : msp.airport |
| State Reference | MN |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : m98.tracon tower : msp.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time type : 528 |
| ASRS Report | 562329 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel gauge other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport other |
| Consequence | other other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
After liftoff approximately 3-5 mi into flight, the FMC gave us the prompt using reserve fuel. At that time, I looked at the gauges, they read: left 6900, right 2300. No circuit breakers popped. I felt either a fuel leak or bad gauge. The fuel gauge on the right started dropping by only hundreds, possible leak. I declared an emergency and asked ATC for immediate turn toward msp. Approach and landing uneventful. Cabin was notified of problem but not prepared. Taxied back to gate after shutdown of #2 engine, and fire crew reported no leak. Takeoff fuel both gauges 8000/8000.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-300 CREW, SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM MSP, RECEIVED A 'USING RESERVE FUEL' PROMPT FROM THE FMC, ALONG WITH A LOW INDICATING R FUEL TANK. WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUEL LEAK, A RETURN TO MSP WAS INITIATED.
Narrative: AFTER LIFTOFF APPROX 3-5 MI INTO FLT, THE FMC GAVE US THE PROMPT USING RESERVE FUEL. AT THAT TIME, I LOOKED AT THE GAUGES, THEY READ: L 6900, R 2300. NO CIRCUIT BREAKERS POPPED. I FELT EITHER A FUEL LEAK OR BAD GAUGE. THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE R STARTED DROPPING BY ONLY HUNDREDS, POSSIBLE LEAK. I DECLARED AN EMER AND ASKED ATC FOR IMMEDIATE TURN TOWARD MSP. APCH AND LNDG UNEVENTFUL. CABIN WAS NOTIFIED OF PROB BUT NOT PREPARED. TAXIED BACK TO GATE AFTER SHUTDOWN OF #2 ENG, AND FIRE CREW RPTED NO LEAK. TKOF FUEL BOTH GAUGES 8000/8000.
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.