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An MD80 technician questions the MEL special procedures for a fuel quantity indicator inoperative using the measuring sticks and leveling requirement.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 703378 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200607 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| 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 Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | maintenance : technician |
| ASRS Report | 703378 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel measuring sticks other other : 1 |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Chart Or Publication Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Chart Or Publication |
Narrative:
The MD80 fuel indicating system must be placarded in accordance with the pertinent information contained in MEL 28-4A; 4B; 4C; and 4D. In the notes for complying with the MEL; fueling is accomplished per the X fueling manual. Specific instructions to maintenance when using the sticks to determine fuel quantity on board is as follows: 'all sticks must be operative for the affected tank and aircraft within plus or minus 1/2 degree of level.' this is to be done before fueling is accomplished. Is the level condition determined before fueling begins and with all passenger and cargo compartments empty? Many times fuel quantity errors are not known until after the aircraft is fueled and the passenger and all cargo are loaded. Is the MD80 maintenance manual the authority/authorized for determining level; or is it an arbitrary parameter; and the use of the plumb bob with the aircraft in its present condition (fueled; and loaded) is sufficient to meet the MEL requirements?
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 TECHNICIAN QUESTIONS THE MEL SPECIAL PROCS FOR A FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR INOP USING THE MEASURING STICKS AND LEVELING REQUIREMENT.
Narrative: THE MD80 FUEL INDICATING SYS MUST BE PLACARDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERTINENT INFO CONTAINED IN MEL 28-4A; 4B; 4C; AND 4D. IN THE NOTES FOR COMPLYING WITH THE MEL; FUELING IS ACCOMPLISHED PER THE X FUELING MANUAL. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO MAINT WHEN USING THE STICKS TO DETERMINE FUEL QUANTITY ON BOARD IS AS FOLLOWS: 'ALL STICKS MUST BE OPERATIVE FOR THE AFFECTED TANK AND ACFT WITHIN PLUS OR MINUS 1/2 DEG OF LEVEL.' THIS IS TO BE DONE BEFORE FUELING IS ACCOMPLISHED. IS THE LEVEL CONDITION DETERMINED BEFORE FUELING BEGINS AND WITH ALL PAX AND CARGO COMPARTMENTS EMPTY? MANY TIMES FUEL QUANTITY ERRORS ARE NOT KNOWN UNTIL AFTER THE ACFT IS FUELED AND THE PAX AND ALL CARGO ARE LOADED. IS THE MD80 MAINT MANUAL THE AUTH FOR DETERMINING LEVEL; OR IS IT AN ARBITRARY PARAMETER; AND THE USE OF THE PLUMB BOB WITH THE ACFT IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION (FUELED; AND LOADED) IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE MEL REQUIREMENTS?
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.