An MD80 on takeoff climb declared an emergency and diverted due to tower advisory of fuel venting from right wing caused by overwing fuel cap loose.

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Attributes
ACN	496782
Time
Date	200012
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure : other published ifr departure
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 16300 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	496782
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : person 4
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

During takeoff, tower informed us that they saw fuel venting out of the right wing. After leveloff, noticed that we had lost 2000 pounds of fuel from the right tank. Notified the tower we needed to return and to call out emergency equipment. Ran appropriate checklist and landed overweight at 140000 pounds. After taxiing off runway, had emergency equipment check for further leaking. None noted, and then taxied to gate and shut down. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the right wing main tank was worked on by a contract fuel tank repair organization and their job card requires removal of the overwing fueling port cap. The reporter said the cap was placed in the recessed port but not secured. The reporter said the condition of the cap cannot be observed during a walkaround inspection. The reporter stated about 2000 pounds of fuel was lost from takeoff roll to landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 ON TKOF CLB DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO TWR ADVISORY OF FUEL VENTING FROM R WING CAUSED BY OVERWING FUEL CAP LOOSE.

Narrative: DURING TKOF, TWR INFORMED US THAT THEY SAW FUEL VENTING OUT OF THE R WING. AFTER LEVELOFF, NOTICED THAT WE HAD LOST 2000 LBS OF FUEL FROM THE R TANK. NOTIFIED THE TWR WE NEEDED TO RETURN AND TO CALL OUT EMER EQUIP. RAN APPROPRIATE CHKLIST AND LANDED OVERWT AT 140000 LBS. AFTER TAXIING OFF RWY, HAD EMER EQUIP CHK FOR FURTHER LEAKING. NONE NOTED, AND THEN TAXIED TO GATE AND SHUT DOWN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE R WING MAIN TANK WAS WORKED ON BY A CONTRACT FUEL TANK REPAIR ORGANIZATION AND THEIR JOB CARD REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE OVERWING FUELING PORT CAP. THE RPTR SAID THE CAP WAS PLACED IN THE RECESSED PORT BUT NOT SECURED. THE RPTR SAID THE CONDITION OF THE CAP CANNOT BE OBSERVED DURING A WALKAROUND INSPECTION. THE RPTR STATED ABOUT 2000 LBS OF FUEL WAS LOST FROM TKOF ROLL TO LNDG.

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.