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After an extended approach and go around the flight crew intending to convey their fuel status told the TRACON they would have to proceed to their alternate if delayed more than 12 mins. The flight crew received priority handling. The controller's supervisor understood the flight crew only had 12 mins of fuel left.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 326562 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199601 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ewr |
| State Reference | NJ |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Dawn |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90 |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 30 |
| ASRS Report | 326562 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Flight from mem to ewr. Upon arrival at ewr, was properly sequenced into busy arrs. Pattern was about 25 NM downwind to 35 NM final. Flew directed speeds (180 KTS on final), then waved off when controller realized that we were a B727 following a B757. Interval was too close for them and we were IMC. Downwind I directed my first officer to declare 'minimum fuel' and inform them that we could stay 12 mins, then we needed to proceed to our alternate. I believed the first officer said that, but by the sound of the next controller's voice, I thought perhaps ATC had misunderstood. I directed my first officer to verify 12 mins prior to divert. I was asked to call ATC on the ground (phone) and I did. The supervisor was told we only had 12 mins of fuel remaining. In retrospect, I should have directed (or done myself) the first officer to point out that we had 1 hour 15 mins fuel on board, but would divert in 12 mins, then ask what the plan for us was. The controller could have queried why only minimum fuel of only 12 mins remained. I know they are very sensitive after the DC8 mishap, but I did not want to get painted into a corner either. In any case, they are extremely busy that time of day and do a remarkable job. I am sorry that they misunderstood my directions.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AFTER AN EXTENDED APCH AND GAR THE FLC INTENDING TO CONVEY THEIR FUEL STATUS TOLD THE TRACON THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROCEED TO THEIR ALTERNATE IF DELAYED MORE THAN 12 MINS. THE FLC RECEIVED PRIORITY HANDLING. THE CTLR'S SUPVR UNDERSTOOD THE FLC ONLY HAD 12 MINS OF FUEL LEFT.
Narrative: FLT FROM MEM TO EWR. UPON ARR AT EWR, WAS PROPERLY SEQUENCED INTO BUSY ARRS. PATTERN WAS ABOUT 25 NM DOWNWIND TO 35 NM FINAL. FLEW DIRECTED SPDS (180 KTS ON FINAL), THEN WAVED OFF WHEN CTLR REALIZED THAT WE WERE A B727 FOLLOWING A B757. INTERVAL WAS TOO CLOSE FOR THEM AND WE WERE IMC. DOWNWIND I DIRECTED MY FO TO DECLARE 'MINIMUM FUEL' AND INFORM THEM THAT WE COULD STAY 12 MINS, THEN WE NEEDED TO PROCEED TO OUR ALTERNATE. I BELIEVED THE FO SAID THAT, BUT BY THE SOUND OF THE NEXT CTLR'S VOICE, I THOUGHT PERHAPS ATC HAD MISUNDERSTOOD. I DIRECTED MY FO TO VERIFY 12 MINS PRIOR TO DIVERT. I WAS ASKED TO CALL ATC ON THE GND (PHONE) AND I DID. THE SUPVR WAS TOLD WE ONLY HAD 12 MINS OF FUEL REMAINING. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED (OR DONE MYSELF) THE FO TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAD 1 HR 15 MINS FUEL ON BOARD, BUT WOULD DIVERT IN 12 MINS, THEN ASK WHAT THE PLAN FOR US WAS. THE CTLR COULD HAVE QUERIED WHY ONLY MINIMUM FUEL OF ONLY 12 MINS REMAINED. I KNOW THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE AFTER THE DC8 MISHAP, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO GET PAINTED INTO A CORNER EITHER. IN ANY CASE, THEY ARE EXTREMELY BUSY THAT TIME OF DAY AND DO A REMARKABLE JOB. I AM SORRY THAT THEY MISUNDERSTOOD MY DIRECTIONS.
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.