Narrative:

We departed dfw airport and approximately 15-20 mi out my company called me on our company frequency to inform me that the fueler had just notified them that he had not finished fueling the aircraft but had driven away leaving the fuel cap unsecured. I looked out and saw that the left fuel cap was not secured and returned back to dfw airport. I had a mechanic re-secure the fuel cap and check visually for any fuel spillage or damage to the wing. There was no spillage or damage so we continued on our flight. As I walked out to the airplane before our first departure, ground personnel informed me the fueler had finished fueling and had left. The fueler did not tell anyone that he was not finished fueling and would return. I checked the fuel quantity on the fuel gauges and they showed the correct amount that I had ordered. At this time I also looked out at the wings and saw the caps on. The aircraft was parked in a poorly lit area but I saw the caps were in the holes. Taxiing for departure we went into a well lighted area and checked for proper deflection of the flight controls. At the same time we verified fuel caps were installed. I could see they were physically on but I now realize I could not tell if they were fully secured. I learned never to take anything for granted. If I am unable to personally watch the fueler fuel then I will find a way to get a close up view of the caps. I was unable to watch the fueler because we were 30 mins late and he started fueling while I was inside checking WX. I was also distracted because there was a change of first officer's for this leg and I had to go in and make sure he was ready to go.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOOSE FUEL CAP CAUSES FUEL TO SIPHON.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED DFW ARPT AND APPROX 15-20 MI OUT MY COMPANY CALLED ME ON OUR COMPANY FREQ TO INFORM ME THAT THE FUELER HAD JUST NOTIFIED THEM THAT HE HAD NOT FINISHED FUELING THE ACFT BUT HAD DRIVEN AWAY LEAVING THE FUEL CAP UNSECURED. I LOOKED OUT AND SAW THAT THE L FUEL CAP WAS NOT SECURED AND RETURNED BACK TO DFW ARPT. I HAD A MECH RE-SECURE THE FUEL CAP AND CHK VISUALLY FOR ANY FUEL SPILLAGE OR DAMAGE TO THE WING. THERE WAS NO SPILLAGE OR DAMAGE SO WE CONTINUED ON OUR FLT. AS I WALKED OUT TO THE AIRPLANE BEFORE OUR FIRST DEP, GND PERSONNEL INFORMED ME THE FUELER HAD FINISHED FUELING AND HAD LEFT. THE FUELER DID NOT TELL ANYONE THAT HE WAS NOT FINISHED FUELING AND WOULD RETURN. I CHKED THE FUEL QUANTITY ON THE FUEL GAUGES AND THEY SHOWED THE CORRECT AMOUNT THAT I HAD ORDERED. AT THIS TIME I ALSO LOOKED OUT AT THE WINGS AND SAW THE CAPS ON. THE ACFT WAS PARKED IN A POORLY LIT AREA BUT I SAW THE CAPS WERE IN THE HOLES. TAXIING FOR DEP WE WENT INTO A WELL LIGHTED AREA AND CHKED FOR PROPER DEFLECTION OF THE FLT CTLS. AT THE SAME TIME WE VERIFIED FUEL CAPS WERE INSTALLED. I COULD SEE THEY WERE PHYSICALLY ON BUT I NOW REALIZE I COULD NOT TELL IF THEY WERE FULLY SECURED. I LEARNED NEVER TO TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. IF I AM UNABLE TO PERSONALLY WATCH THE FUELER FUEL THEN I WILL FIND A WAY TO GET A CLOSE UP VIEW OF THE CAPS. I WAS UNABLE TO WATCH THE FUELER BECAUSE WE WERE 30 MINS LATE AND HE STARTED FUELING WHILE I WAS INSIDE CHKING WX. I WAS ALSO DISTRACTED BECAUSE THERE WAS A CHANGE OF FO'S FOR THIS LEG AND I HAD TO GO IN AND MAKE SURE HE WAS READY TO GO.

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.