Air carrier flight crew reported encountering adverse winds far different than forecasted. This resu...

Attributes
ACN	1345230
Time
Date	201604
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	KZAK.ARTCC
State Reference	HI
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Widebody Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 230 Flight Crew Total 13000 Flight Crew Type 400
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 25000 Flight Crew Type 4500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

After reaching the first ETOPS check point; it was determined that a significant amount of fuel had been burned in excess of estimated flight planned fuel burn (approx. -1;500lbs). We monitored the fuel gauges and fuel burn and realized the fuel would be also short of flight plan at the next ETOPS check point. At approximately 200NM west of cortt we calculated that the fuel at the critical point (cp) would be approximately 4;500lbs less than flight plan fuel. A wind bust of approximately 100 kts was found when the chart forecast wind and dispatch winds were compared to actual winds. At this point a request was made to kzak for a clearance to return to hnl since we had not yet reached the cp. A reply of 'standby' was received however we determined that we could not continue east bound without risking passage of the cp. We [advised ATC] and we initiated a turn utilizing the [company] ETOPS procedures; announced our intentions on the CTAF/121.5; and completed the diversion checklist on the back of the ETOPS checklist. Kzak processed us and cleared us direct hnl.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported encountering adverse winds far different than forecasted. This resulted in having insufficient fuel at the required checkpoints. Flight crew elected to return to HNL.

Narrative: After reaching the first ETOPS check point; it was determined that a significant amount of fuel had been burned in excess of estimated flight planned fuel burn (approx. -1;500lbs). We monitored the fuel gauges and fuel burn and realized the fuel would be also short of flight plan at the next ETOPS check point. At approximately 200NM West of CORTT we calculated that the fuel at the Critical Point (CP) would be approximately 4;500lbs less than flight plan fuel. A wind bust of approximately 100 kts was found when the chart forecast wind and dispatch winds were compared to actual winds. At this point a request was made to KZAK for a clearance to return to HNL since we had not yet reached the CP. A reply of 'Standby' was received however we determined that we could not continue EAST bound without risking passage of the CP. We [advised ATC] and we initiated a turn utilizing the [company] ETOPS procedures; announced our intentions on the CTAF/121.5; and completed the Diversion checklist on the back of the ETOPS checklist. KZAK processed us and cleared us Direct HNL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Air carrier flight crew reported encountering adverse winds far different than forecasted. This resulted in having insufficient fuel at the required checkpoints. Flight crew elected to return to hnl.