During a preflight MD88 first officer finds the aircraft not grounded while fueling is in progress.

Attributes
ACN	692960
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 232 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	692690
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

During the walkaround I found the fueler had not grounded the aircraft. I asked 'is this aircraft properly grounded?' he said 'I don't know.' after explaining it was not; he said 'I don't know' again. I called a fueling supervisor who corrected the fueler's procedures. He explained to me that the fueler said 'I don't know' because he did not understand my question. After reiterating the dangers involved; I went to make 2 points: 1) the fueler was obviously not properly trained as even after I brought it to his attention he did not understand the problem. 2) his lack of english skills is no excuse for not understanding this critical task. The company has been advised of this danger; but I imagine that they will continue to select the lowest cost controller until a tragedy occurs. I hope not. The supervisor did give good instruction to the fueler. I don't think there is malfeasance here; just crappy; cheap training.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A PREFLT MD88 FO FINDS THE ACFT NOT GROUNDED WHILE FUELING IS IN PROGRESS.

Narrative: DURING THE WALKAROUND I FOUND THE FUELER HAD NOT GROUNDED THE ACFT. I ASKED 'IS THIS ACFT PROPERLY GROUNDED?' HE SAID 'I DON'T KNOW.' AFTER EXPLAINING IT WAS NOT; HE SAID 'I DON'T KNOW' AGAIN. I CALLED A FUELING SUPVR WHO CORRECTED THE FUELER'S PROCS. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE FUELER SAID 'I DON'T KNOW' BECAUSE HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND MY QUESTION. AFTER REITERATING THE DANGERS INVOLVED; I WENT TO MAKE 2 POINTS: 1) THE FUELER WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT PROPERLY TRAINED AS EVEN AFTER I BROUGHT IT TO HIS ATTN HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROB. 2) HIS LACK OF ENGLISH SKILLS IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING THIS CRITICAL TASK. THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THIS DANGER; BUT I IMAGINE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SELECT THE LOWEST COST CTLR UNTIL A TRAGEDY OCCURS. I HOPE NOT. THE SUPVR DID GIVE GOOD INSTRUCTION TO THE FUELER. I DON'T THINK THERE IS MALFEASANCE HERE; JUST CRAPPY; CHEAP TRAINING.

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.