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MD80 pilot reports that an unusual number of 'fuel filter press drop' warning lights are occurring on this fleet when operating at cruise altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 761605 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200711 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 34000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 761605 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : warning light other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
I don't believe this is an aircraft specific problem so I am including two events in this report. During flight XXXX (aircraft xyz) and flight YYYY (aircraft yyx) the 'fuel filter press drop' light illuminated. The procedure calls for the fuel heat to be turned on. As soon as the heat was applied the light went out. The fuel temperature on both flts was zero or just below zero. This occurred once on fly YYYY. It occurred 3 times on flight XXXX. On XXXX the time between events was 8 to 10 mins. The last time it occurred was just before descent. If I recall correctly; the first officer mentioned that it had happened to her recently. While speaking to the mechanic at ZZZ; he mentioned that there was another airplane on the ground that evening with the same issue. He commented about water in the fuel. I am writing this report to make all aware of a possible trend with either the fuel or the MD80 system.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD80 PLT RPTS THAT AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF 'FUEL FILTER PRESS DROP' WARNING LIGHTS ARE OCCURRING ON THIS FLEET WHEN OPERATING AT CRUISE ALTITUDE.
Narrative: I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS AN ACFT SPECIFIC PROB SO I AM INCLUDING TWO EVENTS IN THIS RPT. DURING FLT XXXX (ACFT XYZ) AND FLT YYYY (ACFT YYX) THE 'FUEL FILTER PRESS DROP' LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PROC CALLS FOR THE FUEL HEAT TO BE TURNED ON. AS SOON AS THE HEAT WAS APPLIED THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THE FUEL TEMP ON BOTH FLTS WAS ZERO OR JUST BELOW ZERO. THIS OCCURRED ONCE ON FLY YYYY. IT OCCURRED 3 TIMES ON FLT XXXX. ON XXXX THE TIME BETWEEN EVENTS WAS 8 TO 10 MINS. THE LAST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS JUST BEFORE DSCNT. IF I RECALL CORRECTLY; THE FO MENTIONED THAT IT HAD HAPPENED TO HER RECENTLY. WHILE SPEAKING TO THE MECHANIC AT ZZZ; HE MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER AIRPLANE ON THE GND THAT EVENING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. HE COMMENTED ABOUT WATER IN THE FUEL. I AM WRITING THIS RPT TO MAKE ALL AWARE OF A POSSIBLE TREND WITH EITHER THE FUEL OR THE MD80 SYSTEM.
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.