Narrative:

This may be a non-event. It deals with a conflict between the crew of the aircraft and an FAA safety inspector regarding air carrier X MEL and our use of it. Prior to departure from boi we experienced a possible failure of the #2 fuel quantity gauge. After calling maintenance and receiving appropriate MEL number, control number, etc, we dip sticked the tanks and departed. En route the FAA safety inspector expressed his concern that we had not complied fully with the MEL requirements (ie, we did not drain the tanks and refuel with a known quantity). The so explained that he was certain air carrier X used the procedure (dip sticking) on occasion and that it was an approved method. Since our turn time in slc was minimal, we did not have time to look up the page number allowing the dipstick method. On our subsequent flight we found it in the book and believe it bears out our assertion. However, there is room for ambiguity because of the location of the note authorizing our dip sticking in the MEL. After checking with chief pilot and a couple of mechanics, I remain confident that dip sticking is allowed. Only possible improvement would be to move the note allowing the procedure closer to the actual MEL item.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING PREFLT THE FLC OF A B727-200 'DRIP STICKS' THE #2 FUEL TANK PER COMPANY ACFT MEL PROCS DUE TO A POSSIBLE #2 FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR FAILURE. AN FAA INSPECTOR ON BOARD THE ACFT QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF THEIR FUEL CHK PROCS. AFTER THE INSPECTOR DEPLANED AT DEST, THE FLC RESEARCHED THE MATTER AND FOUND THE PROC CORRECT.

Narrative: THIS MAY BE A NON-EVENT. IT DEALS WITH A CONFLICT BTWN THE CREW OF THE ACFT AND AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR REGARDING ACR X MEL AND OUR USE OF IT. PRIOR TO DEP FROM BOI WE EXPERIENCED A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE #2 FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE. AFTER CALLING MAINT AND RECEIVING APPROPRIATE MEL NUMBER, CTL NUMBER, ETC, WE DIP STICKED THE TANKS AND DEPARTED. ENRTE THE FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN THAT WE HAD NOT COMPLIED FULLY WITH THE MEL REQUIREMENTS (IE, WE DID NOT DRAIN THE TANKS AND REFUEL WITH A KNOWN QUANTITY). THE SO EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS CERTAIN ACR X USED THE PROC (DIP STICKING) ON OCCASION AND THAT IT WAS AN APPROVED METHOD. SINCE OUR TURN TIME IN SLC WAS MINIMAL, WE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK UP THE PAGE NUMBER ALLOWING THE DIPSTICK METHOD. ON OUR SUBSEQUENT FLT WE FOUND IT IN THE BOOK AND BELIEVE IT BEARS OUT OUR ASSERTION. HOWEVER, THERE IS ROOM FOR AMBIGUITY BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE NOTE AUTHORIZING OUR DIP STICKING IN THE MEL. AFTER CHKING WITH CHIEF PLT AND A COUPLE OF MECHS, I REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT DIP STICKING IS ALLOWED. ONLY POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENT WOULD BE TO MOVE THE NOTE ALLOWING THE PROC CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL MEL ITEM.

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.