<< >> NASA ASRS Report 562329, October 2002

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.

Related reports:

• Sps is a dual use (civilian-military) airport. Reporter stat...

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

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.