Narrative:

I was the pm. At approximately 16000' the right engine fuel fltr EICAS amber light illuminated as did the right engine fuel fltr status message. Ten seconds later the amber light went out. The status remained on. I got the QRH out. While running the checklist the amber EICAS light re-illuminated for another ten seconds or so. Again it went out. All engine indications were normal. I got flight control on the satcom to discus options. They put on maintenance control. I asked maintenance what they recommend. The answer was a short; curt reply; 'follow the QRH.' that's it; nothing else. Not much additional guidance. The QRH states that with the EICAS message light on and normal engine indications the flight may continue to destination. I felt the prudent and safe thing to do was get the plane on the ground. This decision was predicated on the fact that the amber EICAS message illuminated not once; but twice; the status message remained on throughout; the flight was scheduled for six hours; at night; and over mountainous terrain. I assumed the pilot flying duties. I directed my first officer to get a clearance for a return to the departure airport; which he did. We advised ATC that we wanted vectors back for a precautionary landing. I did not declare an emergency. It was evident that we would be above max landing weight when we got to the airport. I deployed the flaps early [fuel dump was not an option]. Approaching the airport we were still too heavy. So I elected to do one turn in holding with gear and flaps down. It worked out well; landing below 326000#. Landing and roll out were uneventful. In talking with the mechanic; he said after pulling the filter it was clean but the micro switch was still giving erroneous/intermittent signals. The switch was replaced.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767 EICAS and Status Message alerted R ENG FUEL FLTR so the Captain elected to return to the departure airport rather than continue a long flight over mountainous terrain.

Narrative: I was the PM. At approximately 16000' the R ENG FUEL FLTR EICAS amber light illuminated as did the R ENG FUEL FLTR status message. Ten seconds later the amber light went out. The status remained on. I got the QRH out. While running the checklist the amber EICAS light re-illuminated for another ten seconds or so. Again it went out. All engine indications were normal. I got Flight Control on the SATCOM to discus options. They put on Maintenance Control. I asked Maintenance what they recommend. The answer was a short; curt reply; 'follow the QRH.' That's it; nothing else. Not much additional guidance. The QRH states that with the EICAS message light on and normal engine indications the flight may continue to destination. I felt the prudent and safe thing to do was get the plane on the ground. This decision was predicated on the fact that the amber EICAS message illuminated not once; but twice; the status message remained on throughout; the flight was scheduled for six hours; at night; and over mountainous terrain. I assumed the pilot flying duties. I directed my First Officer to get a clearance for a return to the departure airport; which he did. We advised ATC that we wanted vectors back for a precautionary landing. I did not declare an emergency. It was evident that we would be above max landing weight when we got to the airport. I deployed the flaps early [fuel dump was not an option]. Approaching the airport we were still too heavy. So I elected to do one turn in holding with gear and flaps down. It worked out well; landing below 326000#. Landing and roll out were uneventful. In talking with the mechanic; he said after pulling the filter it was clean but the micro switch was still giving erroneous/intermittent signals. The switch was replaced.

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.