Narrative:

Aircraft arrived with many deferrals; 3 of them related to fuel system. I was accomplishing an MEL provision to manually open a left tank fuel fill valve because the automatic function was inoperative. While performing this with the fueler; I observed a discrepancy with the other 2 fuel items. Both items described a discrepancy with #3 gauge which this aircraft does not have. Deferral used MEL (right tank underwing gauge inoperative); but there was no deferral sticker on the gauge. Non-MEL deferral described a temporary repair on #3 gauge; which was actually on the left tank gauge. The temporary repair involved safety-wiring and taping over the gauge. So the left tank quantity could not be read. The fueler performed the manual fueling process for the left tank. After that was completed; we discussed the paperwork confusion and decided that he would have to follow the MEL and meter fuel into the right tank also. While I went into the office to discuss the paperwork confusion with maintenance control; fueling was resumed and a fuel spill occurred. I had forgotten to manually close the left tank; the fueler forgot it was open and he did not have a gauge to alert him to the increase in fuel in the left tank. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated his carrier's maintenance control group has some serious problems. The inaccurate and incorrect reference to a # 3 fuel gauge that doesn't exist on the B757-200; for a left wing tank fuel gauge falling out of the fueling bay panel; due to a broken clamp; was only the beginning of the paperwork confusion he was going to be dealing with that day. Reporter stated the left tank fuel gauge was actually safety wired to the fueling panel and the gauge face was taped over; because the broken clamp that normally secures the gauge to the fuel panel is a difficult part to get a replacement for. Reporter stated the left wing manual refueling requires manually turning a knurled knob on the left wing fill valve located on the rear spar; just above the left main landing gear; a filthy; greasy area. That was the valve he forgot to close when he left the fueler; who was still metering fuel into the right tank.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Lead Mechanic describes a chain of events that culminated with a fuel spill during the refueling of a B757-200 after the aircraft had arrived with many deferrals; three of them related to the fuel system; but inaccurately recorded in the aircraft's maintenance log.

Narrative: Aircraft arrived with many deferrals; 3 of them related to fuel system. I was accomplishing an MEL provision to manually open a left tank fuel fill valve because the automatic function was inoperative. While performing this with the fueler; I observed a discrepancy with the other 2 fuel items. Both items described a discrepancy with #3 gauge which this aircraft does not have. Deferral used MEL (Right Tank Underwing Gauge Inoperative); but there was no deferral sticker on the gauge. Non-MEL Deferral described a temporary repair on #3 gauge; which was actually on the Left Tank gauge. The temporary repair involved safety-wiring and taping over the gauge. So the Left Tank quantity could not be read. The Fueler performed the manual fueling process for the Left Tank. After that was completed; we discussed the paperwork confusion and decided that he would have to follow the MEL and meter fuel into the right tank also. While I went into the office to discuss the paperwork confusion with Maintenance Control; fueling was resumed and a fuel spill occurred. I had forgotten to manually close the left tank; the Fueler forgot it was open and he did not have a gauge to alert him to the increase in fuel in the left tank. Callback conversation with Reporter revealed the following information: Reporter stated his carrier's Maintenance Control group has some serious problems. The inaccurate and incorrect reference to a # 3 fuel gauge that doesn't exist on the B757-200; for a Left Wing Tank Fuel Gauge falling out of the fueling bay panel; due to a broken clamp; was only the beginning of the paperwork confusion he was going to be dealing with that day. Reporter stated the left tank fuel gauge was actually safety wired to the fueling panel and the gauge face was taped over; because the broken clamp that normally secures the gauge to the fuel panel is a difficult part to get a replacement for. Reporter stated the left wing manual refueling requires manually turning a knurled knob on the left wing fill valve located on the rear spar; just above the left main landing gear; a filthy; greasy area. That was the valve he forgot to close when he left the Fueler; who was still metering fuel into the right tank.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.