Multiple delays en route result in B767-200 diverting and declaring a fuel emergency.

Attributes
ACN	730376
Time
Date	200703
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	730376
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel gauges
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Departed with no alternate required and a planned arrival fuel ZZZ1 of 12300 pounds. En route we were given several off course vectors and reduced speed for ATC spacing to ZZZ1. We were given our first holding pattern southwest of ZZZ2. We determined we had approximately 20 mins to hold before having to divert. I notified dispatch to discuss our options. At about our limit we were cleared out of the hold and told we would be able to get in to ZZZ1. We were then given a second hold at ZZZ3 intersection on the arrival. I told ATC that we could do 1 turn in the hold and then would have to divert. We turned outbound in the hold and were then given a turn backing around to join the arrival to ZZZ1. Once on the arrival we were told to expect a hold at ZZZ4. I informed ATC we would need to divert to ZZZ5. They issued us a right turn around for vectors to ZZZ5. We were given a clearance to ZZZ5 over ZZZ6. Upon the first contact with ZZZ5 approach I informed them that we were declaring minimum fuel. After being vectored for the downwind for runway; I realized that the final was going to be too long for our fuel situation and decided that the safest course of action would be to declare an emergency and fly direct to the airport. ZZZ5 approach cleared us direct to the airport for a visual approach and we landed without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MULTIPLE DELAYS ENRTE RESULT IN B767-200 DIVERTING AND DECLARING A FUEL EMER.

Narrative: DEPARTED WITH NO ALTERNATE REQUIRED AND A PLANNED ARR FUEL ZZZ1 OF 12300 LBS. ENRTE WE WERE GIVEN SEVERAL OFF COURSE VECTORS AND REDUCED SPD FOR ATC SPACING TO ZZZ1. WE WERE GIVEN OUR FIRST HOLDING PATTERN SW OF ZZZ2. WE DETERMINED WE HAD APPROX 20 MINS TO HOLD BEFORE HAVING TO DIVERT. I NOTIFIED DISPATCH TO DISCUSS OUR OPTIONS. AT ABOUT OUR LIMIT WE WERE CLRED OUT OF THE HOLD AND TOLD WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN TO ZZZ1. WE WERE THEN GIVEN A SECOND HOLD AT ZZZ3 INTXN ON THE ARR. I TOLD ATC THAT WE COULD DO 1 TURN IN THE HOLD AND THEN WOULD HAVE TO DIVERT. WE TURNED OUTBOUND IN THE HOLD AND WERE THEN GIVEN A TURN BACKING AROUND TO JOIN THE ARR TO ZZZ1. ONCE ON THE ARR WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT A HOLD AT ZZZ4. I INFORMED ATC WE WOULD NEED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ5. THEY ISSUED US A R TURN AROUND FOR VECTORS TO ZZZ5. WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO ZZZ5 OVER ZZZ6. UPON THE FIRST CONTACT WITH ZZZ5 APCH I INFORMED THEM THAT WE WERE DECLARING MINIMUM FUEL. AFTER BEING VECTORED FOR THE DOWNWIND FOR RWY; I REALIZED THAT THE FINAL WAS GOING TO BE TOO LONG FOR OUR FUEL SIT AND DECIDED THAT THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO DECLARE AN EMER AND FLY DIRECT TO THE ARPT. ZZZ5 APCH CLRED US DIRECT TO THE ARPT FOR A VISUAL APCH AND WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.