An MD80 while being fueled the fueler noted a fluctuating fuel quantity indicator. After fueling; th...

Attributes
ACN	651094
Time
Date	200503
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	651094
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fluctuating indicator other other : 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During fueling of flight in ZZZ; the fueler noticed a fluctuating fuel indicator. On his own; he sticked the tanks and found there was a large discrepancy in between the stick readings and indicated fuel. There was around 3000 pounds less fuel in the left tank than was indicated. Having 3000 pounds less in a main tank is a serious condition especially when we are routinely scheduled to land with 6000 pounds -- 3000 pounds in each tank. His dedication to accuracy prevented a situation where we could have landed with no fuel in one of our wing tanks even though the indicator said otherwise. Please find the fueler and thank him. We really appreciate his dedication to accurately fueling our airplane. Note: the aircraft was removed from service and a spare was used to complete the flight. We xferred fuel from the center to the wing tanks to see how much fuel could be xferred before the automatic shutoff system cut in. As it turned out; more than 3000 pounds were xferred into both tanks. Most went into the left but some went into the right wing tank. The aircraft was grounded; and we had to wait until a terminating flight arrived to get a new aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 WHILE BEING FUELED THE FUELER NOTED A FLUCTUATING FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR. AFTER FUELING; THE TANKS WERE STUCK AND FOUND 3000 LBS IN ERROR.

Narrative: DURING FUELING OF FLT IN ZZZ; THE FUELER NOTICED A FLUCTUATING FUEL INDICATOR. ON HIS OWN; HE STICKED THE TANKS AND FOUND THERE WAS A LARGE DISCREPANCY IN BTWN THE STICK READINGS AND INDICATED FUEL. THERE WAS AROUND 3000 LBS LESS FUEL IN THE L TANK THAN WAS INDICATED. HAVING 3000 LBS LESS IN A MAIN TANK IS A SERIOUS CONDITION ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE ROUTINELY SCHEDULED TO LAND WITH 6000 LBS -- 3000 LBS IN EACH TANK. HIS DEDICATION TO ACCURACY PREVENTED A SIT WHERE WE COULD HAVE LANDED WITH NO FUEL IN ONE OF OUR WING TANKS EVEN THOUGH THE INDICATOR SAID OTHERWISE. PLEASE FIND THE FUELER AND THANK HIM. WE REALLY APPRECIATE HIS DEDICATION TO ACCURATELY FUELING OUR AIRPLANE. NOTE: THE ACFT WAS REMOVED FROM SVC AND A SPARE WAS USED TO COMPLETE THE FLT. WE XFERRED FUEL FROM THE CTR TO THE WING TANKS TO SEE HOW MUCH FUEL COULD BE XFERRED BEFORE THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF SYS CUT IN. AS IT TURNED OUT; MORE THAN 3000 LBS WERE XFERRED INTO BOTH TANKS. MOST WENT INTO THE L BUT SOME WENT INTO THE R WING TANK. THE ACFT WAS GNDED; AND WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL A TERMINATING FLT ARRIVED TO GET A NEW ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

An MD80 while being fueled the fueler noted a fluctuating fuel quantity indicator. After fueling; the tanks were stuck and found 3000 pounds in error.