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A B737-300 pilot was distraction during cockpit setup and failed to energize the center fuel tank pumps.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 705633 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200608 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : stl.airport |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : preflight |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 203 |
| ASRS Report | 705633 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
While thinking about turning on the center tank pumps during the before start flow; I was distraction by an off-line jumpseater who was being forced up to the cockpit jumpseat due to lack of seat availability in the cabin. When I continued my before start flow; I forgot to turn on the pumps. I remember thinking during climb out about when I would be turning the pumps off; but since I was in a -300; I did not worry as much about it since I knew I could just run them until I got the fuel pump low pressure light. It turns out that the jumpseater was very talkative and; as a result; I paid no further attention to the center tank fuel. The result was that I never turned the pumps on and landed with only 1000 pounds in each wing tank and 5000 pounds still in the center. I think that a brief reminder to stay on guard while jumpseaters are present published in the company publication would be sufficient. I know that this cannot be the first time that this has happened; and will not be the last time; but reading about it in a publication will reduce the frequency.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-300 PLT WAS DISTR DURING COCKPIT SETUP AND FAILED TO ENERGIZE THE CTR FUEL TANK PUMPS.
Narrative: WHILE THINKING ABOUT TURNING ON THE CTR TANK PUMPS DURING THE BEFORE START FLOW; I WAS DISTR BY AN OFF-LINE JUMPSEATER WHO WAS BEING FORCED UP TO THE COCKPIT JUMPSEAT DUE TO LACK OF SEAT AVAILABILITY IN THE CABIN. WHEN I CONTINUED MY BEFORE START FLOW; I FORGOT TO TURN ON THE PUMPS. I REMEMBER THINKING DURING CLBOUT ABOUT WHEN I WOULD BE TURNING THE PUMPS OFF; BUT SINCE I WAS IN A -300; I DID NOT WORRY AS MUCH ABOUT IT SINCE I KNEW I COULD JUST RUN THEM UNTIL I GOT THE FUEL PUMP LOW PRESSURE LIGHT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE JUMPSEATER WAS VERY TALKATIVE AND; AS A RESULT; I PAID NO FURTHER ATTN TO THE CTR TANK FUEL. THE RESULT WAS THAT I NEVER TURNED THE PUMPS ON AND LANDED WITH ONLY 1000 LBS IN EACH WING TANK AND 5000 LBS STILL IN THE CTR. I THINK THAT A BRIEF REMINDER TO STAY ON GUARD WHILE JUMPSEATERS ARE PRESENT PUBLISHED IN THE COMPANY PUB WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. I KNOW THAT THIS CANNOT BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED; AND WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME; BUT READING ABOUT IT IN A PUB WILL REDUCE THE FREQUENCY.
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.