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A C550 in severe WX diverted to its alternate and after extensive vectoring had a low fuel state. The crew declared a fuel emergency.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 710897 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200609 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Rain Turbulence |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : zzz.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Citation II S2/Bravo |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5400 flight time type : 500 |
| ASRS Report | 710897 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
Departed from ZZZ1 to ZZZ2. Cruising altitude FL450. Planned fuel at ZZZ2 1500 pounds. Diverted to ZZZ3 due to WX at destination of ZZZ2. Level 4-6 thunderstorms reported around ZZZ2 from flight watch. Position of thunderstorms prevented continued flight to ZZZ2. WX at ZZZ3 at same time was reported 700 ft overcast 2 SM -dzbr. Chose that as diversion airport to wait out WX. Informed center that we wanted to land at ZZZ3. Began to receive descent and vectors for the runway approach via the arrival. Planned landing fuel at destination (ZZZ2) was approximately 1500 pounds. Received vectors beginning with a turn to the northwest to north; and to the east around the area while descending to 12000 ft (fuel 1400 pounds). Was instructed to fly a heading of 180 degrees. Controller informed us that this would be vectors for the arrival. At this point; informed ZZZ3 approach controller that we could not take any kind of delay on the approach due to fuel status (now 1200 pounds fuel). Continued on the 180 degree heading for approximately 20 mins (now 1000 pounds fuel). Inquired as to the time we could expect to be on the arrival; reply was 30 SM final. Informed controller that we were getting low on fuel and that we could not take any undue delay in landing. Asked if there was a quicker routing we could get to the airport to land. Reply was 'yes' vectors for a different arrival. Continued on the 180 degree heading for an additional 15 mins. Again informed controller that we were getting very low on fuel could not take any delays. Shortly thereafter; turned to a westerly heading for the arrival. Asked controller again how long it would be before we could get on the approach. Reply was 25 SM final. At that point; declared 'minimum fuel.' approximately 10 mins asked again when we could expect a turn to the field. Was told a 25 SM final again or would have to re-vector others on the approach. (Fuel now 750 pounds landing.) informed controller that we could no longer accept delays. At that point declared 'low fuel emergency.' controller now began to re-vector other aircraft on the approach and gave us clearance for the ILS runway 22L approach and cleared to land. Landed aircraft with no incidence.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C550 IN SEVERE WX DIVERTED TO ITS ALTERNATE AND AFTER EXTENSIVE VECTORING HAD A LOW FUEL STATE. THE CREW DECLARED A FUEL EMER.
Narrative: DEPARTED FROM ZZZ1 TO ZZZ2. CRUISING ALT FL450. PLANNED FUEL AT ZZZ2 1500 LBS. DIVERTED TO ZZZ3 DUE TO WX AT DEST OF ZZZ2. LEVEL 4-6 TSTMS RPTED AROUND ZZZ2 FROM FLT WATCH. POS OF TSTMS PREVENTED CONTINUED FLT TO ZZZ2. WX AT ZZZ3 AT SAME TIME WAS RPTED 700 FT OVCST 2 SM -DZBR. CHOSE THAT AS DIVERSION ARPT TO WAIT OUT WX. INFORMED CTR THAT WE WANTED TO LAND AT ZZZ3. BEGAN TO RECEIVE DSCNT AND VECTORS FOR THE RWY APCH VIA THE ARR. PLANNED LNDG FUEL AT DEST (ZZZ2) WAS APPROX 1500 LBS. RECEIVED VECTORS BEGINNING WITH A TURN TO THE NW TO N; AND TO THE E AROUND THE AREA WHILE DSNDING TO 12000 FT (FUEL 1400 LBS). WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY A HDG OF 180 DEGS. CTLR INFORMED US THAT THIS WOULD BE VECTORS FOR THE ARR. AT THIS POINT; INFORMED ZZZ3 APCH CTLR THAT WE COULD NOT TAKE ANY KIND OF DELAY ON THE APCH DUE TO FUEL STATUS (NOW 1200 LBS FUEL). CONTINUED ON THE 180 DEG HDG FOR APPROX 20 MINS (NOW 1000 LBS FUEL). INQUIRED AS TO THE TIME WE COULD EXPECT TO BE ON THE ARR; REPLY WAS 30 SM FINAL. INFORMED CTLR THAT WE WERE GETTING LOW ON FUEL AND THAT WE COULD NOT TAKE ANY UNDUE DELAY IN LNDG. ASKED IF THERE WAS A QUICKER ROUTING WE COULD GET TO THE ARPT TO LAND. REPLY WAS 'YES' VECTORS FOR A DIFFERENT ARR. CONTINUED ON THE 180 DEG HDG FOR AN ADDITIONAL 15 MINS. AGAIN INFORMED CTLR THAT WE WERE GETTING VERY LOW ON FUEL COULD NOT TAKE ANY DELAYS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; TURNED TO A WESTERLY HDG FOR THE ARR. ASKED CTLR AGAIN HOW LONG IT WOULD BE BEFORE WE COULD GET ON THE APCH. REPLY WAS 25 SM FINAL. AT THAT POINT; DECLARED 'MINIMUM FUEL.' APPROX 10 MINS ASKED AGAIN WHEN WE COULD EXPECT A TURN TO THE FIELD. WAS TOLD A 25 SM FINAL AGAIN OR WOULD HAVE TO RE-VECTOR OTHERS ON THE APCH. (FUEL NOW 750 LBS LNDG.) INFORMED CTLR THAT WE COULD NO LONGER ACCEPT DELAYS. AT THAT POINT DECLARED 'LOW FUEL EMER.' CTLR NOW BEGAN TO RE-VECTOR OTHER ACFT ON THE APCH AND GAVE US CLRNC FOR THE ILS RWY 22L APCH AND CLRED TO LAND. LANDED ACFT WITH NO INCIDENCE.
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.