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An LJ55 flight crew experienced low fuel level light on descent. They declared an emergency and their arrival was expedited.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 826074 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200903 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Learjet 55 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70 Flight Crew Total 2300 Flight Crew Type 750 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Other Low Fuel State |
Narrative:
Upon descent into ZZZ along the zzzzz 1 arrival; the airplane's low fuel warning light lit. Our calculations and indications in the cockpit told us that we had 850 pounds left. However the scavenge pumps; in the wings; activate when there is only 350 pounds left in each wing; illuminating the low fuel annunciator. At this time we knew there was an obvious discrepancy somewhere and decided to declare an emergency. As soon as the controller cleared us lower; the annunciator light extinguished. The controller kept us on short vectors and we landed without incident. When we leveled off at 10;000 ft and 250 KTS on the arrival; the change in speed must have made the fuel in the wings move to the back of the wings compelling the scavenge pumps to activate. I believe in this instance we made the right decision. The captain and I both knew we had 850 pounds left on board but decided it was safer and more prudent to declare the emergency based upon our cockpit indications.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An LJ55 flight crew experienced low fuel level light on descent. They declared an emergency and their arrival was expedited.
Narrative: Upon descent into ZZZ along the ZZZZZ 1 arrival; the airplane's low fuel warning light lit. Our calculations and indications in the cockpit told us that we had 850 LBS left. However the scavenge pumps; in the wings; activate when there is only 350 LBS left in each wing; illuminating the low fuel annunciator. At this time we knew there was an obvious discrepancy somewhere and decided to declare an emergency. As soon as the Controller cleared us lower; the annunciator light extinguished. The Controller kept us on short vectors and we landed without incident. When we leveled off at 10;000 FT and 250 KTS on the arrival; the change in speed must have made the fuel in the wings move to the back of the wings compelling the scavenge pumps to activate. I believe in this instance we made the right decision. The Captain and I both knew we had 850 LBS left on board but decided it was safer and more prudent to declare the emergency based upon our cockpit indications.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.