A320 lands overweight to get fuel.

Attributes
ACN	726685
Time
Date	200702
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 13680 flight time type : 3219
ASRS Report	726685
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fms fuel remaining calc other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Phl to sfo. When I picked up the flight release; the sfo arrival fuel was 5700 pounds. Our VFR target arrival fuel for the 320 is 5900 pounds. We had no alternate listed and minimum holding fuel. We were booked full. I called the dispatcher to discuss the fuel; and that we may have to make a fuel stop. We fueled to mtog; and left. Airborne; the FMS calculated our sfo arrival fuel to be 4400 pounds. After many calculations on a fuel log; ACARS msgs between us and the dispatcher; climbing right up to our recommended cruise altitude; and slowing to maximum economy speed; we still could not make any more fuel; so we decided to make a fuel stop. The dispatcher suggested numerous times that we stop in den. It was along our route of flight. The next alternate west was las; too far away; and too far off the route. We landed in den at 144200 pounds. Maximum landing weight is 142200 pounds. Touchdown was soft; and no ECAM was generated; so a write-up and maintenance inspection were not required. Corrective actions: landing for fuel was the right choice even overweight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 LANDS OVERWT TO GET FUEL.

Narrative: PHL TO SFO. WHEN I PICKED UP THE FLT RELEASE; THE SFO ARR FUEL WAS 5700 LBS. OUR VFR TARGET ARR FUEL FOR THE 320 IS 5900 LBS. WE HAD NO ALTERNATE LISTED AND MINIMUM HOLDING FUEL. WE WERE BOOKED FULL. I CALLED THE DISPATCHER TO DISCUSS THE FUEL; AND THAT WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE A FUEL STOP. WE FUELED TO MTOG; AND LEFT. AIRBORNE; THE FMS CALCULATED OUR SFO ARR FUEL TO BE 4400 LBS. AFTER MANY CALCULATIONS ON A FUEL LOG; ACARS MSGS BETWEEN US AND THE DISPATCHER; CLBING RIGHT UP TO OUR RECOMMENDED CRUISE ALT; AND SLOWING TO MAX ECONOMY SPD; WE STILL COULD NOT MAKE ANY MORE FUEL; SO WE DECIDED TO MAKE A FUEL STOP. THE DISPATCHER SUGGESTED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT WE STOP IN DEN. IT WAS ALONG OUR ROUTE OF FLT. THE NEXT ALTERNATE WEST WAS LAS; TOO FAR AWAY; AND TOO FAR OFF THE RTE. WE LANDED IN DEN AT 144200 LBS. MAX LNDG WT IS 142200 LBS. TOUCHDOWN WAS SOFT; AND NO ECAM WAS GENERATED; SO A WRITE-UP AND MAINT INSPECTION WERE NOT REQUIRED. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: LNDG FOR FUEL WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE EVEN OVERWT.

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.