Narrative:

Flight at ZZZ was parked and being loaded at ramp. Fuel was noted at 18000 pounds, pre-clearance called for 19000 pounds. Radio call to dispatch was made and new manifest generated. Note was made to be aware of alternates 'down the line.' while conducting preflight walkaround, a fuel leak was discovered from the right wing surge tank. Logbook and maintenance records revealed that the surge tank valve had been installed incorrectly. This write-up was made a few days prior and a few weeks prior. It is my opinion that the malfunction was known, not corrected and our departure fuel was 'short' in order to prevent surge tank overflow.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FUEL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE R WING SURGE TANK OF A B737-200. THE DISCREPANCY HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RPTED AND SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED.

Narrative: FLT AT ZZZ WAS PARKED AND BEING LOADED AT RAMP. FUEL WAS NOTED AT 18000 LBS, PRE-CLRNC CALLED FOR 19000 LBS. RADIO CALL TO DISPATCH WAS MADE AND NEW MANIFEST GENERATED. NOTE WAS MADE TO BE AWARE OF ALTERNATES 'DOWN THE LINE.' WHILE CONDUCTING PREFLT WALKAROUND, A FUEL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED FROM THE R WING SURGE TANK. LOGBOOK AND MAINT RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE SURGE TANK VALVE HAD BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. THIS WRITE-UP WAS MADE A FEW DAYS PRIOR AND A FEW WKS PRIOR. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS KNOWN, NOT CORRECTED AND OUR DEP FUEL WAS 'SHORT' IN ORDER TO PREVENT SURGE TANK OVERFLOW.

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.