Narrative:

Per MEL for fuel quantity indicator system, tank 3A should remain empty and 1A should remain empty for balance purposes. I used our computer system to determine the fuel distribution for required fuel to see how much fuel, if any, would need to be removed from either tank. When the display came up it showed fuel in tanks 2L-1-3-2R. No figures for 3A or 1A. So, I determined that there would be no fuel required in those tanks for a fuel load of 195000 pounds in an L-1011-250. Given my short time (1 1/2 yrs) in the dispatch office, I later learned from another individual, 2 days later, that our fuel distribution does not break down tanks 3 and 1 to 3A and 1A, and there was, indeed, fuel in the affected tanks. The pilots and fueling department did not catch this error, and the flight operated without incident. I found out about this from an individual that saw my flight plan used as an example in a training class the day after I released the flight. I believe (with the information I have at this time) that corrections are being made to the fuel distribution program in the computer to indeed show a complete breakdown of the fuel in tanks 1 and 3.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISPATCHER FOR A WDB ACR ACFT INADVERTENTLY FIGURED THE FUEL LOAD IN ERROR DUE TO ERRONEOUS FUEL LOADING COMPUTER DISPLAY RESULTING IN THE ACFT FUEL LOAD NOT MEETING AN ACFT MEL PROVISION.

Narrative: PER MEL FOR FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR SYS, TANK 3A SHOULD REMAIN EMPTY AND 1A SHOULD REMAIN EMPTY FOR BAL PURPOSES. I USED OUR COMPUTER SYS TO DETERMINE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION FOR REQUIRED FUEL TO SEE HOW MUCH FUEL, IF ANY, WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM EITHER TANK. WHEN THE DISPLAY CAME UP IT SHOWED FUEL IN TANKS 2L-1-3-2R. NO FIGURES FOR 3A OR 1A. SO, I DETERMINED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FUEL REQUIRED IN THOSE TANKS FOR A FUEL LOAD OF 195000 LBS IN AN L-1011-250. GIVEN MY SHORT TIME (1 1/2 YRS) IN THE DISPATCH OFFICE, I LATER LEARNED FROM ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, 2 DAYS LATER, THAT OUR FUEL DISTRIBUTION DOES NOT BREAK DOWN TANKS 3 AND 1 TO 3A AND 1A, AND THERE WAS, INDEED, FUEL IN THE AFFECTED TANKS. THE PLTS AND FUELING DEPT DID NOT CATCH THIS ERROR, AND THE FLT OPERATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS FROM AN INDIVIDUAL THAT SAW MY FLT PLAN USED AS AN EXAMPLE IN A TRAINING CLASS THE DAY AFTER I RELEASED THE FLT. I BELIEVE (WITH THE INFO I HAVE AT THIS TIME) THAT CORRECTIONS ARE BEING MADE TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM IN THE COMPUTER TO INDEED SHOW A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE FUEL IN TANKS 1 AND 3.

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.