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B737-300 captain reported confusion in attempting to comply with MEL and aom with center fuel tank indicator inoperative.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1110027 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201308 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Fuel Quantity-Pressure Indication |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 93 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural MEL Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
Aircraft had MEL 28-7-04 (center tank fuel quantity indicator inoperative). Proviso B2 of the MEL allows us to depart with the center tank verified as empty; defined as turning on the center tank pumps and observing both low pressure lights illuminated for 15 seconds. If the lights extinguish; the fuel in the tank is to be burned or transferred out. Since the center tank fuel pump low pressure lights did not illuminate steady; we attempted to transfer the fuel out of the tank. Aom 16.12.4 directs turning off the center tank pumps at the first indication of fuel pump low pressure; which occurs well before the point at which both lights will illuminate steady for 15 seconds. Based on what I observed; I'm confident that we did in fact depart with a center tank that was essentially empty; but the guidance we have puts crews in a position where they can not fully comply with both the aom and the MEL in situations like this.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737-300 Captain reported confusion in attempting to comply with MEL and AOM with center fuel tank indicator inoperative.
Narrative: Aircraft had MEL 28-7-04 (center tank Fuel Quantity Indicator inoperative). Proviso B2 of the MEL allows us to depart with the center tank verified as empty; defined as turning on the center tank pumps and observing both low pressure lights illuminated for 15 seconds. If the lights extinguish; the fuel in the tank is to be burned or transferred out. Since the Center Tank fuel pump low pressure lights did not illuminate steady; we attempted to transfer the fuel out of the tank. AOM 16.12.4 directs turning off the Center Tank pumps at the first indication of fuel pump low pressure; which occurs well before the point at which both lights will illuminate steady for 15 seconds. Based on what I observed; I'm confident that we did in fact depart with a center tank that was essentially empty; but the guidance we have puts crews in a position where they can not fully comply with both the AOM and the MEL in situations like this.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.