Narrative:

I was captain of aircraft flight which operated atl/mco on aircraft, a B-727-100, was dispatched with the #2 fuel quantity indicator inoperative. MEL 28 - 11 was complied with and the maintenance log indicated the aircraft was fueled with a know quantity of 1044 gallons in tank #2. This was verified with the fuel service firm for proper quantity in all 3 tanks. Takeoff and climb were normal, but when we leveled off at FL330, I noticed the right aft boost pump low pressure light illuminated. We trouble-shot the pump with no help. Shortly thereafter the left aft boost pump low pressure light also illuminated. At this point I felt certain that we had low fuel in tank #2 and were not properly fueled in accordance with maintenance log. We performed the 'low fuel quantity' abnormal procedures and proceeded to mco for landing since this was our nearest suitable airport. After landing in mco, I directed aircraft maintenance to completely defuel tank #2 and they reported defueling approximately 400 pounds of fuel. My company is conducting an investigation to determine with atl maintenance as to how this error occurred. No structural limitations were exceeded, but the aircraft was operated with less than FAA required fuel. Supplemental information from acn 269457: the log was signed off by maintenance as having 1044 'pounds,' but when questioned by the so, the pounds was written over as 'gallons.' #2 tank was drained with 400 pounds of fuel taken out. The fuel that should have remained in #2 tank was 3867 pounds.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FRTR TOOK OFF WITH A LIGHT FUEL LOAD.

Narrative: I WAS CAPT OF ACFT FLT WHICH OPERATED ATL/MCO ON ACFT, A B-727-100, WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE #2 FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR INOP. MEL 28 - 11 WAS COMPLIED WITH AND THE MAINT LOG INDICATED THE ACFT WAS FUELED WITH A KNOW QUANTITY OF 1044 GALLONS IN TANK #2. THIS WAS VERIFIED WITH THE FUEL SVC FIRM FOR PROPER QUANTITY IN ALL 3 TANKS. TKOF AND CLB WERE NORMAL, BUT WHEN WE LEVELED OFF AT FL330, I NOTICED THE R AFT BOOST PUMP LOW PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WE TROUBLE-SHOT THE PUMP WITH NO HELP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE L AFT BOOST PUMP LOW PRESSURE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. AT THIS POINT I FELT CERTAIN THAT WE HAD LOW FUEL IN TANK #2 AND WERE NOT PROPERLY FUELED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MAINT LOG. WE PERFORMED THE 'LOW FUEL QUANTITY' ABNORMAL PROCS AND PROCEEDED TO MCO FOR LNDG SINCE THIS WAS OUR NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. AFTER LNDG IN MCO, I DIRECTED ACFT MAINT TO COMPLETELY DEFUEL TANK #2 AND THEY RPTED DEFUELING APPROX 400 LBS OF FUEL. MY COMPANY IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WITH ATL MAINT AS TO HOW THIS ERROR OCCURRED. NO STRUCTURAL LIMITATIONS WERE EXCEEDED, BUT THE ACFT WAS OPERATED WITH LESS THAN FAA REQUIRED FUEL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 269457: THE LOG WAS SIGNED OFF BY MAINT AS HAVING 1044 'LBS,' BUT WHEN QUESTIONED BY THE SO, THE LBS WAS WRITTEN OVER AS 'GALLONS.' #2 TANK WAS DRAINED WITH 400 LBS OF FUEL TAKEN OUT. THE FUEL THAT SHOULD HAVE REMAINED IN #2 TANK WAS 3867 LBS.

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.