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After landing at their destination; a B737-800 flight crew determined that a fuel boost pump low pressure warning light; signed off and deferred by maintenance as being an indicator problem was not the only issue. In fact the boost pump was not providing pressure and had failed. Reporter contended this faulty maintenance was not an isolated incident.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 946760 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201104 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-800 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Fuel Booster Pump |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural MEL Deviation - Procedural Maintenance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
While getting our aircraft ready for flight a review of the logbook advised the right aft fuel pump low pressure light inoperative - remains on at all times; but pump works ok. An additional entry; made the previous day stated 'the right aft fuel pump failed'. The maintenance sign off was (paraphrased) 'previously noted ignore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'we then flew the aircraft to our destination at which point I decided to operate the APU with the cross-feed open and the right aft fuel pump supplying pressure. After a few minutes it became apparent that the right aft pump had indeed failed and fuel was being suction fed from the left tank.this aircraft had been flying around the system with the pump turned on all the while being a failed pump. This pump could have been overheating or worse yet caused a fire/explosion due to poor/nonexistent maintenance. Yes I'm mad!!! This system is broken and somebody (anybody) needs to fix it before people are killed!
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: After landing at their destination; a B737-800 flight crew determined that a fuel boost pump low pressure warning light; signed off and deferred by maintenance as being an indicator problem was not the only issue. In fact the boost pump was not providing pressure and had failed. Reporter contended this faulty maintenance was not an isolated incident.
Narrative: While getting our aircraft ready for flight a review of the logbook advised the right aft fuel pump low pressure light inoperative - remains on at all times; but pump works ok. An additional entry; made the previous day stated 'the right aft fuel pump failed'. The maintenance sign off was (paraphrased) 'Previously noted IGNORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'We then flew the aircraft to our destination at which point I decided to operate the APU with the cross-feed open and the right aft fuel pump supplying pressure. After a few minutes it became apparent that the right aft pump had indeed FAILED and fuel was being suction fed from the left tank.This aircraft had been flying around the system with the pump turned ON all the while being a failed pump. This pump could have been overheating or worse yet caused a fire/explosion due to POOR/NONEXISTENT MAINTENANCE. YES I'M MAD!!! This system is broken and somebody (anybody) needs to fix it before people are killed!
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.