A B737-700 returned to departure station because of insufficient fuel for ETOPS operation.

Attributes
ACN	639144
Time
Date	200412
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 38000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	639144
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	639145
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While I was doing the etp fuel calculations, I noticed after the first entry a lower than normal discrepancy. I called it to captain's attention immediately and from there we realized the discrepancy between the pre-clearance (34000 pounds) and the flight plan (38000 pounds). After verifying the difference between the two, it was also found on the weight and balance to be 34000 pounds. We then got a hold of dispatch and discussed the situation with them, came to the conclusion to turn around and return. On returning, we declared an emergency with center due to the fact that we would be making an overweight landing. Upon an uneventful landing, the emergency was terminated and we taxied to the gate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 RETURNED TO DEP STATION BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT FUEL FOR ETOPS OP.

Narrative: WHILE I WAS DOING THE ETP FUEL CALCULATIONS, I NOTICED AFTER THE FIRST ENTRY A LOWER THAN NORMAL DISCREPANCY. I CALLED IT TO CAPT'S ATTN IMMEDIATELY AND FROM THERE WE REALIZED THE DISCREPANCY BTWN THE PRE-CLRNC (34000 LBS) AND THE FLT PLAN (38000 LBS). AFTER VERIFYING THE DIFFERENCE BTWN THE TWO, IT WAS ALSO FOUND ON THE WT AND BAL TO BE 34000 LBS. WE THEN GOT A HOLD OF DISPATCH AND DISCUSSED THE SIT WITH THEM, CAME TO THE CONCLUSION TO TURN AROUND AND RETURN. ON RETURNING, WE DECLARED AN EMER WITH CTR DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WOULD BE MAKING AN OVERWT LNDG. UPON AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG, THE EMER WAS TERMINATED AND WE TAXIED TO THE GATE.

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.