B737 crew diverts for fuel filter bypass light but does not follow QRH procedure.

Attributes
ACN	722419
Time
Date	200612
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pxr.vortac
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	722419
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	722558
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During cruise at FL360 we experienced an intermittent #2 engine oil filter bypass light. We focused our attention on it and were not certain of the validity of the indication with the support of completely normal engine parameters and the light being unsteady. We were approximately 110 NM from ZZZ. We notified ATC that we wanted to divert to ZZZ with a possible engine problem. We were given direct ZZZ and a descent to a lower altitude. We began a steep descent and proceeded directly to ZZZ. We reviewed the QRH and were analyzing the problem. At some time during the descent with the thrust lever at idle; the light came on steady. At that point we determined that we would have to shut down the engine (at approximately FL200 the light extinguished). We tested the light and found that it was working. The engine parameters were all normal; with the oil filter bypass light extinguished; so we decided to continue to ZZZ without shutting down the engine. The approach and landing were uneventful and the aircraft was given to maintenance in ZZZ. This report was submitted within 24 hours of being notified by chief pilot of possible violation of procedures. Due to compression of events in a short distance and time; I should have immediately followed the QRH and shut down the engine.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW DIVERTS FOR FUEL FILTER BYPASS LIGHT BUT DOES NOT FOLLOW QRH PROC.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT FL360 WE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT #2 ENG OIL FILTER BYPASS LIGHT. WE FOCUSED OUR ATTN ON IT AND WERE NOT CERTAIN OF THE VALIDITY OF THE INDICATION WITH THE SUPPORT OF COMPLETELY NORMAL ENG PARAMETERS AND THE LIGHT BEING UNSTEADY. WE WERE APPROX 110 NM FROM ZZZ. WE NOTIFIED ATC THAT WE WANTED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ WITH A POSSIBLE ENG PROB. WE WERE GIVEN DIRECT ZZZ AND A DSCNT TO A LOWER ALT. WE BEGAN A STEEP DSCNT AND PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO ZZZ. WE REVIEWED THE QRH AND WERE ANALYZING THE PROB. AT SOME TIME DURING THE DSCNT WITH THE THRUST LEVER AT IDLE; THE LIGHT CAME ON STEADY. AT THAT POINT WE DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENG (AT APPROX FL200 THE LIGHT EXTINGUISHED). WE TESTED THE LIGHT AND FOUND THAT IT WAS WORKING. THE ENG PARAMETERS WERE ALL NORMAL; WITH THE OIL FILTER BYPASS LIGHT EXTINGUISHED; SO WE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO ZZZ WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE ENG. THE APCH AND LNDG WERE UNEVENTFUL AND THE ACFT WAS GIVEN TO MAINT IN ZZZ. THIS RPT WAS SUBMITTED WITHIN 24 HRS OF BEING NOTIFIED BY CHIEF PLT OF POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF PROCS. DUE TO COMPRESSION OF EVENTS IN A SHORT DISTANCE AND TIME; I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED THE QRH AND SHUT DOWN THE ENG.

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.