Narrative:

While in cruise we became aware that #2 (center) fuel quantity had decreased to 1500 pounds while #1 and #3 tanks had approximately 10000 pounds each. This is approximately 6500 pounds below operator specified limit for boeing 727 aircraft. This was due to #2 tank pumps overriding #1 and #3 pumps and xfeeds left open per initial fuel management procedures. Xfeed valves should have been closed when all tanks indicated equal quantity. Fuel mismgmnt error was detected when 1 of 4 boost pump low pressure lights illuminated. All #2 pumps were turned off to prevent any further loss of fuel from #2 tank. We consulted with carrier system maintenance controller. He advised that there was no operational restr and we proceeded with a normal approach and landing with the fuel panel in this confign. At block arrival, #2 tank still indicated 1500 pounds. Contributing factors: 1) this flight was preceded by maximum duty days of approximately 15 hours each and 2 short (less than 12 hour) layovers contributing to crew fatigue and less than optimum attention. 2) lack of procedural check (recently deleted) to call crew's attention to reconfigure fuel for flight after takeoff. 3) infrequent necessity for this fuel management procedure. Corrective actions: 1) federal regulations should not allow crew members to perform excessive (over 12 hour) duty periods (in the actual operation) consecutively without sufficient opportunity for rest (16 hours minimum). 2) re-institute check. 3) each crew member should increase vigilance of fuel management.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FUEL MISMGMNT.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE WE BECAME AWARE THAT #2 (CTR) FUEL QUANTITY HAD DECREASED TO 1500 LBS WHILE #1 AND #3 TANKS HAD APPROX 10000 LBS EACH. THIS IS APPROX 6500 LBS BELOW OPERATOR SPECIFIED LIMIT FOR BOEING 727 ACFT. THIS WAS DUE TO #2 TANK PUMPS OVERRIDING #1 AND #3 PUMPS AND XFEEDS LEFT OPEN PER INITIAL FUEL MGMNT PROCS. XFEED VALVES SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED WHEN ALL TANKS INDICATED EQUAL QUANTITY. FUEL MISMGMNT ERROR WAS DETECTED WHEN 1 OF 4 BOOST PUMP LOW PRESSURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALL #2 PUMPS WERE TURNED OFF TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER LOSS OF FUEL FROM #2 TANK. WE CONSULTED WITH CARRIER SYS MAINT CTLR. HE ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO OPERATIONAL RESTR AND WE PROCEEDED WITH A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG WITH THE FUEL PANEL IN THIS CONFIGN. AT BLOCK ARR, #2 TANK STILL INDICATED 1500 LBS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) THIS FLT WAS PRECEDED BY MAX DUTY DAYS OF APPROX 15 HRS EACH AND 2 SHORT (LESS THAN 12 HR) LAYOVERS CONTRIBUTING TO CREW FATIGUE AND LESS THAN OPTIMUM ATTN. 2) LACK OF PROCEDURAL CHK (RECENTLY DELETED) TO CALL CREW'S ATTN TO RECONFIGURE FUEL FOR FLT AFTER TKOF. 3) INFREQUENT NECESSITY FOR THIS FUEL MGMNT PROC. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 1) FEDERAL REGS SHOULD NOT ALLOW CREW MEMBERS TO PERFORM EXCESSIVE (OVER 12 HR) DUTY PERIODS (IN THE ACTUAL OP) CONSECUTIVELY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITY FOR REST (16 HRS MINIMUM). 2) RE-INSTITUTE CHK. 3) EACH CREW MEMBER SHOULD INCREASE VIGILANCE OF FUEL MGMNT.

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.