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Air carrier large transport with inoperative fuel gauge and faulty fueling valve has out of balance fuel load and returns and lands.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 93788 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198809 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dfw |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude ground : preflight |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 120 |
| ASRS Report | 93788 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | other personnel other |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Airport |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
I received aircraft for scheduled flight from dfw to ewr with the #1 fuel gauge inoperative and MEL stating that it was cleared for operation. Maintenance drained the #1 tank and filled with a known qty 11000 pounds (1642 gal). The fuel load was to be 34600#, 11000 in #1, 12600 in #2 and 11000 pounds in #3. The fueler began fueling #1 with known qty. I completed my preflight duties. The fueler brought the fuel slip onboard and we checked it to verify our fuel load. The slip showed 11000, 12600, 11000. Our 2 operating gauges confirmed we had the proper fuel load. After takeoff, the aircraft had a very strong roll tendency to the right. It took approximately 18 degree left aileron to hold level flight. We returned to dfw. On the ground, we had maintenance stick the #1 tank. The #1 tank was approximately 3000# low. Maintenance found that the #3 fueling switch was not closing properly. When the fueler was fueling a known qty in #1, it was actually pumping fuel into #3. The fueler did not note the beginning fuel in #3, so when the #3 tank reached 11000 pounds, it was at the expense of #1.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ACR LGT WITH INOPERATIVE FUEL GAUGE AND FAULTY FUELING VALVE HAS OUT OF BALANCE FUEL LOAD AND RETURNS AND LANDS.
Narrative: I RECEIVED ACFT FOR SCHEDULED FLT FROM DFW TO EWR WITH THE #1 FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE AND MEL STATING THAT IT WAS CLRED FOR OPERATION. MAINT DRAINED THE #1 TANK AND FILLED WITH A KNOWN QTY 11000 LBS (1642 GAL). THE FUEL LOAD WAS TO BE 34600#, 11000 IN #1, 12600 IN #2 AND 11000 LBS IN #3. THE FUELER BEGAN FUELING #1 WITH KNOWN QTY. I COMPLETED MY PREFLT DUTIES. THE FUELER BROUGHT THE FUEL SLIP ONBOARD AND WE CHKED IT TO VERIFY OUR FUEL LOAD. THE SLIP SHOWED 11000, 12600, 11000. OUR 2 OPERATING GAUGES CONFIRMED WE HAD THE PROPER FUEL LOAD. AFTER TKOF, THE ACFT HAD A VERY STRONG ROLL TENDENCY TO THE RIGHT. IT TOOK APPROX 18 DEG LEFT AILERON TO HOLD LEVEL FLT. WE RETURNED TO DFW. ON THE GND, WE HAD MAINT STICK THE #1 TANK. THE #1 TANK WAS APPROX 3000# LOW. MAINT FOUND THAT THE #3 FUELING SWITCH WAS NOT CLOSING PROPERLY. WHEN THE FUELER WAS FUELING A KNOWN QTY IN #1, IT WAS ACTUALLY PUMPING FUEL INTO #3. THE FUELER DID NOT NOTE THE BEGINNING FUEL IN #3, SO WHEN THE #3 TANK REACHED 11000 LBS, IT WAS AT THE EXPENSE OF #1.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.