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A B757-200 was dispatched in non compliance with the center tank fueled to 23400 pounds with the fuel quantity indicator inoperative per the MEL.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 577956 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200303 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dawn |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| 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 | other personnel |
| ASRS Report | 577956 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 578242 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : ctr tank fuel qty indicator |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | other other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
Shortly after taking over the shift, I received a plane change for flight XXX in ZZZ. The new aircraft assigned to the flight had the center fuel tank quantity indicator deferred. I did notice that it had been deferred, but I assumed that, like the main tank indicators, the only restr would be a requirement to confirm the amount of fuel in the tank prior to departure. I did not pull up the placard, and as a result, I did not know that, due to this specific deferral, flight was precluded with fuel in the center tank. The fuel load for this flight called for fuel in the center tank. I later sent out a third release for this flight to accommodate a ZFW change, and again, I did not pick up on the fact that fuel in the center tank was forbidden. I unintentionally allowed this flight to depart with 23400 pounds of fuel in the center tank. This was illegal per the MEL. My attention was diverted from the task at hand. This may have played a role in the incident.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B757-200 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE CTR TANK FUELED TO 23400 LBS WITH THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR INOP PER THE MEL.
Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OVER THE SHIFT, I RECEIVED A PLANE CHANGE FOR FLT XXX IN ZZZ. THE NEW ACFT ASSIGNED TO THE FLT HAD THE CTR FUEL TANK QUANTITY INDICATOR DEFERRED. I DID NOTICE THAT IT HAD BEEN DEFERRED, BUT I ASSUMED THAT, LIKE THE MAIN TANK INDICATORS, THE ONLY RESTR WOULD BE A REQUIREMENT TO CONFIRM THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK PRIOR TO DEP. I DID NOT PULL UP THE PLACARD, AND AS A RESULT, I DID NOT KNOW THAT, DUE TO THIS SPECIFIC DEFERRAL, FLT WAS PRECLUDED WITH FUEL IN THE CTR TANK. THE FUEL LOAD FOR THIS FLT CALLED FOR FUEL IN THE CTR TANK. I LATER SENT OUT A THIRD RELEASE FOR THIS FLT TO ACCOMMODATE A ZFW CHANGE, AND AGAIN, I DID NOT PICK UP ON THE FACT THAT FUEL IN THE CTR TANK WAS FORBIDDEN. I UNINTENTIONALLY ALLOWED THIS FLT TO DEPART WITH 23400 LBS OF FUEL IN THE CTR TANK. THIS WAS ILLEGAL PER THE MEL. MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED FROM THE TASK AT HAND. THIS MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE INCIDENT.
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.