 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Symphony 160 flight crew has a low fuel warning in the right fuel tank; divert for landing. Fuel cap missing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 695063 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200604 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : fat.airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : fat.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | instruction : trainee |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 130 |
| ASRS Report | 695063 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | instruction : instructor |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 260 |
| ASRS Report | 695064 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel gauge other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Ambiguous |
Narrative:
On apr/xa/06; I was acting as PIC on a commercial cross country with my instructor. The flight was from mer-bfl. At bfl I refueled the aircraft and we began our return flight to mer. En route; we received a low fuel indication on our right tank; and diverted to the closest airport; fat. Whilst sitting in the FBO we were informed that the left fuel cap was missing. As PIC I decided to ground the airplane and return to mer from fat by taxi. With the fuel cap missing; my instructor advised me to call bfl and inform them that we were missing a fuel cap. My instructor's first thoughts were that 'he hoped it was not on the runway at bfl; and actions were taken to advise them to do a runway sweep.' I am certain that the fuel cap must have become loose in-flight. This is because I make it a habit to always doublechk my fuel caps after I refuel; or after an FBO fuels my airplane; my instructor always enforces that I do this.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SYMPHONY 160 FLT CREW HAS A LOW FUEL WARNING IN THE R FUEL TANK; DIVERT FOR LNDG. FUEL CAP MISSING.
Narrative: ON APR/XA/06; I WAS ACTING AS PIC ON A COMMERCIAL XCOUNTRY WITH MY INSTRUCTOR. THE FLT WAS FROM MER-BFL. AT BFL I REFUELED THE ACFT AND WE BEGAN OUR RETURN FLT TO MER. ENRTE; WE RECEIVED A LOW FUEL INDICATION ON OUR R TANK; AND DIVERTED TO THE CLOSEST ARPT; FAT. WHILST SITTING IN THE FBO WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE L FUEL CAP WAS MISSING. AS PIC I DECIDED TO GND THE AIRPLANE AND RETURN TO MER FROM FAT BY TAXI. WITH THE FUEL CAP MISSING; MY INSTRUCTOR ADVISED ME TO CALL BFL AND INFORM THEM THAT WE WERE MISSING A FUEL CAP. MY INSTRUCTOR'S FIRST THOUGHTS WERE THAT 'HE HOPED IT WAS NOT ON THE RWY AT BFL; AND ACTIONS WERE TAKEN TO ADVISE THEM TO DO A RWY SWEEP.' I AM CERTAIN THAT THE FUEL CAP MUST HAVE BECOME LOOSE INFLT. THIS IS BECAUSE I MAKE IT A HABIT TO ALWAYS DOUBLECHK MY FUEL CAPS AFTER I REFUEL; OR AFTER AN FBO FUELS MY AIRPLANE; MY INSTRUCTOR ALWAYS ENFORCES THAT I DO THIS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.