A B757-200 captain reports that two company B757s he had just flown had the same pre-departure test ...

Narrative:

B757-200 flight manual (normal procedures pre-departure); specifies a test for (center) C pump press lights and EICAS messages if center tank fuel is planned and contains usable fuel. Both B757 aircraft that I just flew with planned and boarded center tank fueled partially; failed this required test. In both instances; the required EICAS message did not appear for the center right fuel pump when the right C pump switch correctly displayed an illuminated amber low press light. In both instances; the EICAS message correctly appeared for the center left fuel pump. The first flight was company aircraft X; a B757; in october 2011. The second flight was another B757; aircraft Y; the next day. Company maintenance addressed the first event in coordination with maintenance control. Company maintenance at another base addressed the second event in coordination with maintenance control also. The second occurrence raised a warning flag that there might be more than an isolated problem. I advised maintenance control; local maintenance; dispatch; and my first officer that I intended to file a report. Maintenance control replied that they had e-mailed engineering. Local maintenance replied that they planned to also report. A B757 flight planned without center tank fuel would not require this pre-departure test; so the existence of this malfunction would not be identified.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 Captain reports that two company B757s he had just flown had the same pre-departure test failures of the Center Fuel Tank Right (R) Boost Pump and the associated EICAS messages not appearing as required.

Narrative: B757-200 flight manual (Normal Procedures Pre-departure); specifies a test for (Center) C PUMP PRESS lights and EICAS messages if center tank fuel is planned and contains usable fuel. Both B757 aircraft that I just flew with planned and boarded center tank fueled partially; failed this required test. In both instances; the required EICAS message did NOT appear for the CTR R FUEL PUMP when the RIGHT C PUMP switch correctly displayed an illuminated amber low PRESS light. In both instances; the EICAS message correctly appeared for the CTR L FUEL PUMP. The first flight was company Aircraft X; a B757; in October 2011. The second flight was another B757; Aircraft Y; the next day. Company Maintenance addressed the first event in coordination with Maintenance Control. Company Maintenance at another base addressed the second event in coordination with Maintenance Control also. The second occurrence raised a warning flag that there might be more than an isolated problem. I advised Maintenance Control; Local Maintenance; Dispatch; and my First Officer that I intended to file a report. Maintenance Control replied that they had e-mailed Engineering. Local Maintenance replied that they planned to also report. A B757 flight planned without center tank fuel would not require this pre-departure test; so the existence of this malfunction would not be identified.

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.

Attributes
ACN	973750
Time
Date	201110
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Booster Pump
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying Check Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 29485 Flight Crew Type 5000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A B757-200 captain reports that two company B757s he had just flown had the same pre-departure test failures of the center fuel tank right (right) boost pump and the associated EICAS messages not appearing as required.