B737-200 PIC report on being over-fueled by a non english speaking ground person at bur, ca.

Attributes
ACN	594173
Time
Date	200309
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bur.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 27500 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	594173
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Fuel load for departure was 14100 pounds. 2 workers from fuel truck asked me if fuel load was 14100 pounds. I confirmed the load as 14100 pounds from flight release. The 'lead' fueler repeated the fuel load calculations to the co-worker who was to do the fueling in spanish. They proceeded with the fueling. The fuel slip I got from them showed 14100 pounds. During the checklist, I read the gauges as 14100 pounds plus about 500 pounds. Since the performance calculations indicated at least 3000 pounds, pad for departure, we proceeded with the takeoff. While climbing out of 10000 ft MSL, I recalculated the fuel load and it figured to almost 1300 pounds over the original fuel load. The fueler showed 7.64 left tank and 7.64 right tank equaling 14128 pounds. It actually calculates to 15400 pounds. I always add up the fuel in all tanks and write down the quantities in each tank. (I did not do this for this departure.) conclusions: 1) I did not double-check the calculations, got in a rush, but saw we had 'some extra.' 2) verify fuel loads with fuelers in english.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-200 PIC RPT ON BEING OVER-FUELED BY A NON ENGLISH SPEAKING GND PERSON AT BUR, CA.

Narrative: FUEL LOAD FOR DEP WAS 14100 LBS. 2 WORKERS FROM FUEL TRUCK ASKED ME IF FUEL LOAD WAS 14100 LBS. I CONFIRMED THE LOAD AS 14100 LBS FROM FLT RELEASE. THE 'LEAD' FUELER REPEATED THE FUEL LOAD CALCULATIONS TO THE CO-WORKER WHO WAS TO DO THE FUELING IN SPANISH. THEY PROCEEDED WITH THE FUELING. THE FUEL SLIP I GOT FROM THEM SHOWED 14100 LBS. DURING THE CHKLIST, I READ THE GAUGES AS 14100 LBS PLUS ABOUT 500 LBS. SINCE THE PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATED AT LEAST 3000 LBS, PAD FOR DEP, WE PROCEEDED WITH THE TKOF. WHILE CLBING OUT OF 10000 FT MSL, I RECALCULATED THE FUEL LOAD AND IT FIGURED TO ALMOST 1300 LBS OVER THE ORIGINAL FUEL LOAD. THE FUELER SHOWED 7.64 L TANK AND 7.64 R TANK EQUALING 14128 LBS. IT ACTUALLY CALCULATES TO 15400 LBS. I ALWAYS ADD UP THE FUEL IN ALL TANKS AND WRITE DOWN THE QUANTITIES IN EACH TANK. (I DID NOT DO THIS FOR THIS DEP.) CONCLUSIONS: 1) I DID NOT DOUBLE-CHK THE CALCULATIONS, GOT IN A RUSH, BUT SAW WE HAD 'SOME EXTRA.' 2) VERIFY FUEL LOADS WITH FUELERS IN ENGLISH.

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.