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The B757-200 crew detected a fuel leak in-flight. They declared an emergency and diverted to a nearby airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 642342 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200412 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | controller military : 7 controller non radar : 1 controller radar : 10 flight time last 90 days : 147 flight time type : 1167 |
| ASRS Report | 642342 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : relief pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 900 |
| ASRS Report | 642344 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
We were flying from ZZZ1 to ZZZ2, when the fuel leak was discovered. After it was verified, we decided to divert to ZZZ3 and called company with the information. We then declared an emergency and asked center for a divert to ZZZ3. As we began to run the checklist and shut down the engine, company called back and said it would be closer for us to divert to ZZZ4 or ZZZ5. At this time, we were approximately 20 NM north of ZZZ4 and 40 NM southwest of ZZZ5. Both airports would have required maneuvering in the descent since we were at FL310. We wanted more time to descend and prepare for landing. So we continued to ZZZ3 and landed without incident. I know that on initial decision to divert to ZZZ3 was influenced by the fact that we have maintenance there and are familiar with the field. Our checklist states that we will land at the nearest suitable airport. ZZZ4 was closer, so that is why I question our decision to divert to ZZZ3. I don't know if corrective action is required, except to clarify for myself, the actual requirements for the nearest suitable airport. I have recurrent training in february or march and expect the topic to be discussed at length. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that the aircraft type was a B757-200. This was not stated in either of the crew member's reports. The reporter also stated that the fuel leak location was in an engine component in which a gasket failed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: THE B757-200 CREW DETECTED A FUEL LEAK INFLT. THEY DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO A NEARBY ARPT.
Narrative: WE WERE FLYING FROM ZZZ1 TO ZZZ2, WHEN THE FUEL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. AFTER IT WAS VERIFIED, WE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ3 AND CALLED COMPANY WITH THE INFO. WE THEN DECLARED AN EMER AND ASKED CTR FOR A DIVERT TO ZZZ3. AS WE BEGAN TO RUN THE CHKLIST AND SHUT DOWN THE ENG, COMPANY CALLED BACK AND SAID IT WOULD BE CLOSER FOR US TO DIVERT TO ZZZ4 OR ZZZ5. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE APPROX 20 NM N OF ZZZ4 AND 40 NM SW OF ZZZ5. BOTH ARPTS WOULD HAVE REQUIRED MANEUVERING IN THE DSCNT SINCE WE WERE AT FL310. WE WANTED MORE TIME TO DSND AND PREPARE FOR LNDG. SO WE CONTINUED TO ZZZ3 AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I KNOW THAT ON INITIAL DECISION TO DIVERT TO ZZZ3 WAS INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MAINT THERE AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE FIELD. OUR CHKLIST STATES THAT WE WILL LAND AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. ZZZ4 WAS CLOSER, SO THAT IS WHY I QUESTION OUR DECISION TO DIVERT TO ZZZ3. I DON'T KNOW IF CORRECTIVE ACTION IS REQUIRED, EXCEPT TO CLARIFY FOR MYSELF, THE ACTUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. I HAVE RECURRENT TRAINING IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH AND EXPECT THE TOPIC TO BE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE ACFT TYPE WAS A B757-200. THIS WAS NOT STATED IN EITHER OF THE CREW MEMBER'S RPTS. THE RPTR ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION WAS IN AN ENG COMPONENT IN WHICH A GASKET FAILED.
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.