With fuel temperature going below the minimum limit, a warmer altitude is requested. After a long delay with fuel temperature continuing to decrease, descent is begun without clearance.

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Attributes
ACN	569450
Time
Date	200212
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : czqx.airport
State Reference	NF
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27500 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czqx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	569450
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter other non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel temp indication other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While at FL390, crew noted temperature at -70 degrees C (forecast to be -61 degrees C). Fuel tank temperatures were at -32 degrees C. Crew continuously monitored fuel tank temperatures. When fuel reached -33 degrees C, crew requested lower altitude and was cleared to FL370. Fuel temperature remained at -33 degrees C. Crew requested lower altitude and was told to stand by. (Note: fuel temperature was given to ATC for reason.) slight speed increases had no effect on fuel temperature. Frequency change was made to gander oceanic per request. Crew again requested lower altitude due to fuel temperatures. Crew advised to stand by. Fuel temperature went to -34 degrees C and fuel flow in #1 engine began fluctuating. Captain made decision to descend. Area was cleared visually and with TCASII. Captain advised gander of descent and aircraft was leveled at FL275 on planned course. During descent, gander was not responding to our radio calls (VHF) and information of our status was relayed through another aircraft on frequency. We established (VHF) communications with gander and advised them of our status. We were cleared to FL270 and the flight continued without incident. Due to colder than forecast temperatures, the request for lower altitudes perhaps should have been conveyed sooner. However, neither the captain nor myself had experienced fuel temperatures this low along this route of flight during previous trips.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WITH FUEL TEMP GOING BELOW THE MINIMUM LIMIT, A WARMER ALT IS REQUESTED. AFTER A LONG DELAY WITH FUEL TEMP CONTINUING TO DECREASE, DSCNT IS BEGUN WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE AT FL390, CREW NOTED TEMP AT -70 DEGS C (FORECAST TO BE -61 DEGS C). FUEL TANK TEMPS WERE AT -32 DEGS C. CREW CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED FUEL TANK TEMPS. WHEN FUEL REACHED -33 DEGS C, CREW REQUESTED LOWER ALT AND WAS CLRED TO FL370. FUEL TEMP REMAINED AT -33 DEGS C. CREW REQUESTED LOWER ALT AND WAS TOLD TO STAND BY. (NOTE: FUEL TEMP WAS GIVEN TO ATC FOR REASON.) SLIGHT SPD INCREASES HAD NO EFFECT ON FUEL TEMP. FREQ CHANGE WAS MADE TO GANDER OCEANIC PER REQUEST. CREW AGAIN REQUESTED LOWER ALT DUE TO FUEL TEMPS. CREW ADVISED TO STAND BY. FUEL TEMP WENT TO -34 DEGS C AND FUEL FLOW IN #1 ENG BEGAN FLUCTUATING. CAPT MADE DECISION TO DSND. AREA WAS CLRED VISUALLY AND WITH TCASII. CAPT ADVISED GANDER OF DSCNT AND ACFT WAS LEVELED AT FL275 ON PLANNED COURSE. DURING DSCNT, GANDER WAS NOT RESPONDING TO OUR RADIO CALLS (VHF) AND INFO OF OUR STATUS WAS RELAYED THROUGH ANOTHER ACFT ON FREQ. WE ESTABLISHED (VHF) COMS WITH GANDER AND ADVISED THEM OF OUR STATUS. WE WERE CLRED TO FL270 AND THE FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT INCIDENT. DUE TO COLDER THAN FORECAST TEMPS, THE REQUEST FOR LOWER ALTS PERHAPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONVEYED SOONER. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE CAPT NOR MYSELF HAD EXPERIENCED FUEL TEMPS THIS LOW ALONG THIS RTE OF FLT DURING PREVIOUS TRIPS.

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.