Flight crew of air carrier widebody transport aircraft diverted to an alternate airport due to a sys...

Attributes
ACN	223247
Time
Date	199210
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : myr
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute : other oceanic enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	223247
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	223014
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During cruise at FL310 on A554, all 4 inner fuel tank boost pump fault lights illuminated with simultaneous boost pump fault messages displayed on ECAM. In accordance with the operating manual, we completed the fuel tank pump fault/low pressure procedure. In order to apply gravity feed procedures, we requested and were granted FL200 by ATC. Clearance to FL200 was accompanied by routing off of A554 to coran, bacus and elizabeth city, which pointed us toward our closest suitable airport. After reaching FL200, a calculation of available fuel without the quantity in the inner tanks, indicated that flight to destination would have been possible, but in my judgement, not prudent considering the potential for additional unforeseen problems. Our nearest suitable airport at that point was myr, we requested and received clearance to myr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ACR WDB ACFT DIVERTED TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT DUE TO A SYS PROBLEM.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT FL310 ON A554, ALL 4 INNER FUEL TANK BOOST PUMP FAULT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITH SIMULTANEOUS BOOST PUMP FAULT MESSAGES DISPLAYED ON ECAM. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPERATING MANUAL, WE COMPLETED THE FUEL TANK PUMP FAULT/LOW PRESSURE PROC. IN ORDER TO APPLY GRAVITY FEED PROCS, WE REQUESTED AND WERE GRANTED FL200 BY ATC. CLRNC TO FL200 WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ROUTING OFF OF A554 TO CORAN, BACUS AND ELIZABETH CITY, WHICH POINTED US TOWARD OUR CLOSEST SUITABLE ARPT. AFTER REACHING FL200, A CALCULATION OF AVAILABLE FUEL WITHOUT THE QUANTITY IN THE INNER TANKS, INDICATED THAT FLT TO DEST WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE, BUT IN MY JUDGEMENT, NOT PRUDENT CONSIDERING THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL UNFORESEEN PROBLEMS. OUR NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT AT THAT POINT WAS MYR, WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO MYR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

Flight crew of air carrier widebody transport aircraft diverted to an alternate airport due to a system problem.