B757-200 on ETOPS flight returns to departure airport when fuel gauges fail enroute.

Attributes
ACN	802591
Time
Date	200809
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
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 : 15000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	802591
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel system qty gauges other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Flight was delayed due to right fuel gauge and totalizer inoperative (no ETOPS) maintenance released flight; dispatch released flight and we departed. All system were normal until 1:15 into flight when right fuel gauge and totalizer went blank (inoperative). First officer and I discussed options. With no change we would return to ZZZ. I called dispatch and maintenance on HF phone patch. Concurred with return to ZZZ returned to primary HF and coordinated for clearance to return to ZZZ. Told flight attendants of situation and planned return and ETA. Made PA to passenger on problem and decision to return. Received clearance back to ZZZ and proceeded to land without further incident. Fuel readings returned to normal 40 mins after malfunction. Debriefed maintenance on arrival.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 ON ETOPS FLT RETURNS TO DEP ARPT WHEN FUEL GAUGES FAIL ENROUTE.

Narrative: FLT WAS DELAYED DUE TO R FUEL GAUGE AND TOTALIZER INOP (NO ETOPS) MAINT RELEASED FLT; DISPATCH RELEASED FLT AND WE DEPARTED. ALL SYS WERE NORMAL UNTIL 1:15 INTO FLT WHEN R FUEL GAUGE AND TOTALIZER WENT BLANK (INOP). FO AND I DISCUSSED OPTIONS. WITH NO CHANGE WE WOULD RETURN TO ZZZ. I CALLED DISPATCH AND MAINT ON HF PHONE PATCH. CONCURRED WITH RETURN TO ZZZ RETURNED TO PRIMARY HF AND COORDINATED FOR CLRNC TO RETURN TO ZZZ. TOLD FLT ATTENDANTS OF SITUATION AND PLANNED RETURN AND ETA. MADE PA TO PAX ON PROB AND DECISION TO RETURN. RECEIVED CLRNC BACK TO ZZZ AND PROCEEDED TO LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. FUEL READINGS RETURNED TO NORMAL 40 MINS AFTER MALFUNCTION. DEBRIEFED MAINT ON ARR.

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.