Improper fuel loading results in an arrival with no fuel in one main wing tank on a B727.

Attributes
ACN	529293
Time
Date	200111
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	529293
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
ASRS Report	529290
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel pump press lights other flight crewa
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Our #1 fuel gg was placarded inoperative so a fuel slip was required prior to departure. The fuel slip arrived as the gate agent was requesting to close the door and pull the jetbridge. The fueler determined that 2887 gallons of fuel needed to be added after calculating the fuel on board prior to fueling. He in fact added 2955 gallons which was 68 gallons greater than his calculations. He verbally confirmed that he topped off the 1 tank. On approach into dfw, the #1 boost pump lights came on one at a time. I instructed the flight engineer to position the xfeed valves to assure positive boost pump pressure to #1 engine. After landing with a total of 9000 pounds of fuel in #2 and #3 tanks, it was found that the #1 tank was empty. Apparently, the #1 tank had about 5000 pounds less fuel than was planned. I believe the problem started with an incorrect calculation by the fueler as to how much fuel was on board prior to fueling.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMPROPER FUEL LOADING RESULTS IN AN ARR WITH NO FUEL IN ONE MAIN WING TANK ON A B727.

Narrative: OUR #1 FUEL GG WAS PLACARDED INOP SO A FUEL SLIP WAS REQUIRED PRIOR TO DEP. THE FUEL SLIP ARRIVED AS THE GATE AGENT WAS REQUESTING TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND PULL THE JETBRIDGE. THE FUELER DETERMINED THAT 2887 GALLONS OF FUEL NEEDED TO BE ADDED AFTER CALCULATING THE FUEL ON BOARD PRIOR TO FUELING. HE IN FACT ADDED 2955 GALLONS WHICH WAS 68 GALLONS GREATER THAN HIS CALCULATIONS. HE VERBALLY CONFIRMED THAT HE TOPPED OFF THE 1 TANK. ON APCH INTO DFW, THE #1 BOOST PUMP LIGHTS CAME ON ONE AT A TIME. I INSTRUCTED THE FE TO POS THE XFEED VALVES TO ASSURE POSITIVE BOOST PUMP PRESSURE TO #1 ENG. AFTER LNDG WITH A TOTAL OF 9000 LBS OF FUEL IN #2 AND #3 TANKS, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE #1 TANK WAS EMPTY. APPARENTLY, THE #1 TANK HAD ABOUT 5000 LBS LESS FUEL THAN WAS PLANNED. I BELIEVE THE PROB STARTED WITH AN INCORRECT CALCULATION BY THE FUELER AS TO HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ON BOARD PRIOR TO FUELING.

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.