During taxi out; there was confusion as to whether a fuel cap had been left off the aircraft. The co...

Attributes
ACN	772014
Time
Date	200801
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zgzu.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	772014
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Departed gate and told to taxi to runway 36R. 1/2 way there; ground controller tells us to call company. Company says that the fuel cap was not put back on aircraft; and that we should return to gate. Wheels up time was about 10-15 mins from calling company. We ask if we can return to the ramp area; have a couple of mechanics bring the cap in question to the aircraft; while keeping #1 engine running. So we situation at spot 8 for about 5 mins and a truck with 2 men and a ladder in the back comes rolling up to our aircraft. No sooner than they arrive they give us a thumbs up and wave goodbye. Not great communication; but to be safe we call back inside to operations to make sure. They say that the cap was on all the time. We tell the passenger the truth; and take off within 1 or 2 mins of our release time. Aircraft landed without further incident; except when we get back to the gate; outbound crew is taking our aircraft back out and after completing walkaround they say; 'where's your fuel cap?' so we are at a loss to explain why the 2-MAN crew didn't pick up the fact that we were without a fuel cap.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING TAXI OUT; THERE WAS CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER A FUEL CAP HAD BEEN LEFT OFF THE ACFT. THE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS ON THE ACFT; SO THE FLT DEPARTED. AFTER LNDG; IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS MISSING.

Narrative: DEPARTED GATE AND TOLD TO TAXI TO RWY 36R. 1/2 WAY THERE; GND CTLR TELLS US TO CALL COMPANY. COMPANY SAYS THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT PUT BACK ON ACFT; AND THAT WE SHOULD RETURN TO GATE. WHEELS UP TIME WAS ABOUT 10-15 MINS FROM CALLING COMPANY. WE ASK IF WE CAN RETURN TO THE RAMP AREA; HAVE A COUPLE OF MECHS BRING THE CAP IN QUESTION TO THE ACFT; WHILE KEEPING #1 ENG RUNNING. SO WE SIT AT SPOT 8 FOR ABOUT 5 MINS AND A TRUCK WITH 2 MEN AND A LADDER IN THE BACK COMES ROLLING UP TO OUR ACFT. NO SOONER THAN THEY ARRIVE THEY GIVE US A THUMBS UP AND WAVE GOODBYE. NOT GREAT COM; BUT TO BE SAFE WE CALL BACK INSIDE TO OPS TO MAKE SURE. THEY SAY THAT THE CAP WAS ON ALL THE TIME. WE TELL THE PAX THE TRUTH; AND TAKE OFF WITHIN 1 OR 2 MINS OF OUR RELEASE TIME. ACFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT; EXCEPT WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE GATE; OUTBOUND CREW IS TAKING OUR ACFT BACK OUT AND AFTER COMPLETING WALKAROUND THEY SAY; 'WHERE'S YOUR FUEL CAP?' SO WE ARE AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN WHY THE 2-MAN CREW DIDN'T PICK UP THE FACT THAT WE WERE WITHOUT A FUEL CAP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

During taxi out; there was confusion as to whether a fuel cap had been left off the aircraft. The company confirmed that the fuel cap was on the aircraft; so the flight departed. After landing; it was discovered that the fuel cap was missing.