B737-300 #1 fuel gauge reads empty at cruise. Fuel emergency declared.

Attributes
ACN	799347
Time
Date	200808
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.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 : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 265 flight time type : 265
ASRS Report	799347
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel quant. gauge other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While in level unaccelerated cruise at FL260 in VMC captain and I were performing 15 min system scan. We note the #1 fuel quantity was zero with approximately 4700 pounds in the #2 tank (center tank was empty for this leg). Both captain and I visually checked fuel gauge and compared to dr during before start checklist (all 3 gauge were digital). All fuel circuit breakers were checked and all were in. Note that the #1 digital fuel gauges never went blank or dashes. Captain and I felt our best action was to declare emergency fuel. Captain squawked 7700. I asked for direct to (our destination) and to remain high until ready to start the approach. Flight attendants were briefed and passenger were informed we would be landing earlier than anticipated. Landing was uneventful. Maintenance met us at gate; logbook write-up entered. This event is a rare occurrence when everything went right; but a fuel gauge showed zero. We played it extra cautious.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 #1 FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY AT CRUISE. FUEL EMERGENCY DECLARED.

Narrative: WHILE IN LEVEL UNACCELERATED CRUISE AT FL260 IN VMC CAPT AND I WERE PERFORMING 15 MIN SYS SCAN. WE NOTE THE #1 FUEL QUANTITY WAS ZERO WITH APPROX 4700 LBS IN THE #2 TANK (CTR TANK WAS EMPTY FOR THIS LEG). BOTH CAPT AND I VISUALLY CHKED FUEL GAUGE AND COMPARED TO DR DURING BEFORE START CHKLIST (ALL 3 GAUGE WERE DIGITAL). ALL FUEL CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE CHKED AND ALL WERE IN. NOTE THAT THE #1 DIGITAL FUEL GAUGES NEVER WENT BLANK OR DASHES. CAPT AND I FELT OUR BEST ACTION WAS TO DECLARE EMER FUEL. CAPT SQUAWKED 7700. I ASKED FOR DIRECT TO (OUR DEST) AND TO REMAIN HIGH UNTIL READY TO START THE APCH. FLT ATTENDANTS WERE BRIEFED AND PAX WERE INFORMED WE WOULD BE LNDG EARLIER THAN ANTICIPATED. LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. MAINT MET US AT GATE; LOGBOOK WRITE-UP ENTERED. THIS EVENT IS A RARE OCCURRENCE WHEN EVERYTHING WENT RIGHT; BUT A FUEL GAUGE SHOWED ZERO. WE PLAYED IT EXTRA CAUTIOUS.

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.