C182 pilot returns to departure airport due to a leaking fuel cap.

Attributes
ACN	609722
Time
Date	200402
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 644 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude ground : preflight
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 550 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	609722
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I departed from ZZZ airport. After reaching 1300 ft, I noticed fuel leaking out of my left wing. I then glanced at the fuel gauge and saw that my fuel level was dropping rapidly. I notified departure of the situation and they gave me priority back into ZZZ. I landed without incident. When I surveyed to see what the problem was, I found out the fuel cap had come undone. I had failed to check the tightness of the fuel caps prior to departure. During preflight, I checked to see if the fuel caps were on, but didn't get on a ladder to check the tightness. This incident could have been prevented if I would have done a complete preflight and checked the fuel caps.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT RETURNS TO DEP ARPT DUE TO A LEAKING FUEL CAP.

Narrative: I DEPARTED FROM ZZZ ARPT. AFTER REACHING 1300 FT, I NOTICED FUEL LEAKING OUT OF MY L WING. I THEN GLANCED AT THE FUEL GAUGE AND SAW THAT MY FUEL LEVEL WAS DROPPING RAPIDLY. I NOTIFIED DEP OF THE SIT AND THEY GAVE ME PRIORITY BACK INTO ZZZ. I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN I SURVEYED TO SEE WHAT THE PROB WAS, I FOUND OUT THE FUEL CAP HAD COME UNDONE. I HAD FAILED TO CHK THE TIGHTNESS OF THE FUEL CAPS PRIOR TO DEP. DURING PREFLT, I CHKED TO SEE IF THE FUEL CAPS WERE ON, BUT DIDN'T GET ON A LADDER TO CHK THE TIGHTNESS. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF I WOULD HAVE DONE A COMPLETE PREFLT AND CHKED THE FUEL CAPS.

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.