DC9-50 with inoperative center fuel gauge dispatched with improper fuel information.

Attributes
ACN	311644
Time
Date	199507
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 50
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	311644
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	311563
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

A DC9-50 was dispatched with an inoperative center fuel tank gauge. A dripless stick was used to determine fuel quantity in center tank. The quantity was read and recorded as 5000 pounds by the fueler. The actual quantity in the center tank was 500 pounds. There was 9000 pounds in each of the 2 main tanks for a total of 18500 pounds on aircraft. The paperwork showed just under 24000 pounds. After takeoff the mains started to feed immediately indicating either inoperative center fuel pumps or no center tank fuel. WX was good and we landed at hou with 7000 pounds which is well above reserves. It was apparent that the fueler mistook the graduations on the dripless stick as 'thousands' instead of 'hundreds.' there should be better education and communication between fuelers, maintenance and pilots when fuel quantity is determined in this manner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-50 WITH INOP CTR FUEL GAUGE DISPATCHED WITH IMPROPER FUEL INFO.

Narrative: A DC9-50 WAS DISPATCHED WITH AN INOP CTR FUEL TANK GAUGE. A DRIPLESS STICK WAS USED TO DETERMINE FUEL QUANTITY IN CTR TANK. THE QUANTITY WAS READ AND RECORDED AS 5000 LBS BY THE FUELER. THE ACTUAL QUANTITY IN THE CTR TANK WAS 500 LBS. THERE WAS 9000 LBS IN EACH OF THE 2 MAIN TANKS FOR A TOTAL OF 18500 LBS ON ACFT. THE PAPERWORK SHOWED JUST UNDER 24000 LBS. AFTER TKOF THE MAINS STARTED TO FEED IMMEDIATELY INDICATING EITHER INOP CTR FUEL PUMPS OR NO CTR TANK FUEL. WX WAS GOOD AND WE LANDED AT HOU WITH 7000 LBS WHICH IS WELL ABOVE RESERVES. IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE FUELER MISTOOK THE GRADUATIONS ON THE DRIPLESS STICK AS 'THOUSANDS' INSTEAD OF 'HUNDREDS.' THERE SHOULD BE BETTER EDUCATION AND COM BTWN FUELERS, MAINT AND PLTS WHEN FUEL QUANTITY IS DETERMINED IN THIS MANNER.

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.