B737 flight crew reports master caution for fuel filter bypass at 100 knots during takeoff. Flight c...

Attributes
ACN	755655
Time
Date	200709
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	753655
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	755662
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : master caution other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On takeoff roll at approximately 100 KIAS; master caution illuminated. Continued takeoff; after takeoff determined light to be due to #1 engine fuel filter bypass. At a safe altitude we xferred aircraft control and I ran the appropriate irregular checklist while first officer flew and talked to ATC. Attempted to contact dispatch using ACARS. Was unable to talk to dispatch until above FL200. Requested phone patch to maintenance. After consultation with dispatch and maintenance we decided to return to ZZZ. Conversation with maintenance was marginal at best; patch was extremely scratchy and weak. We decided to land overweight as opposed to burning fuel down as we were unable to ascertain status of filter clog; and it seemed far safer to land expeditiously with both engines running than to risk having #1 quit and having to land single engine at maximum landing weight. After notifying flight attendants and passenger of return to field; I resumed PF duties and we completed all appropriate normal checklist. An emergency was declared with approach. Landing was uneventful with a gentle touchdown. Taxied normally to the gate under our own power. We felt that the situation was well within our training; and the event was handled properly with SOP's and appropriate checklists.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW REPORTS MASTER CAUTION FOR FUEL FILTER BYPASS AT 100 KNOTS DURING TKOF. FLT CREW ELECTS TO RETURN AFTER DISCUSSION WITH MAINTENANCE.

Narrative: ON TKOF ROLL AT APPROX 100 KIAS; MASTER CAUTION ILLUMINATED. CONTINUED TKOF; AFTER TKOF DETERMINED LIGHT TO BE DUE TO #1 ENG FUEL FILTER BYPASS. AT A SAFE ALT WE XFERRED ACFT CTL AND I RAN THE APPROPRIATE IRREGULAR CHKLIST WHILE FO FLEW AND TALKED TO ATC. ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT DISPATCH USING ACARS. WAS UNABLE TO TALK TO DISPATCH UNTIL ABOVE FL200. REQUESTED PHONE PATCH TO MAINT. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH DISPATCH AND MAINT WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO ZZZ. CONVERSATION WITH MAINT WAS MARGINAL AT BEST; PATCH WAS EXTREMELY SCRATCHY AND WEAK. WE DECIDED TO LAND OVERWT AS OPPOSED TO BURNING FUEL DOWN AS WE WERE UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN STATUS OF FILTER CLOG; AND IT SEEMED FAR SAFER TO LAND EXPEDITIOUSLY WITH BOTH ENGS RUNNING THAN TO RISK HAVING #1 QUIT AND HAVING TO LAND SINGLE ENG AT MAX LNDG WT. AFTER NOTIFYING FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX OF RETURN TO FIELD; I RESUMED PF DUTIES AND WE COMPLETED ALL APPROPRIATE NORMAL CHKLIST. AN EMER WAS DECLARED WITH APCH. LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL WITH A GENTLE TOUCHDOWN. TAXIED NORMALLY TO THE GATE UNDER OUR OWN PWR. WE FELT THAT THE SITUATION WAS WELL WITHIN OUR TRAINING; AND THE EVENT WAS HANDLED PROPERLY WITH SOP'S AND APPROPRIATE CHKLISTS.

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.

B737 flight crew reports master caution for fuel filter bypass at 100 knots during takeoff. Flight crew elects to return after discussion with maintenance.