Aviation Safety Investigation Report - Preliminary

[Guest Chainsaw]

AO-2007-036: Fuel related event - 50 km NW of Swan Hill, Vic; 11 August 2007; VH-TJE, Boeing 737-476

Adjust font size:

 

[small fonts] [Normal fonts] [Large fonts] [Largest fonts]

 

Occurrence Details

 

Occurrence Number: 200705093

 

Location: 50 kms NW of Swan Hill

 

State: VIC

 

Highest Injury Level: None

 

Occurrence Date: 11 August 2007

 

Occurrence Time: 1200 EST

 

Occurrence Category: Serious Incident

 

Investigation Type: Occurrence Investigation

 

Occurrence Class: Operational

 

Occurrence Type: Fuel Related

 

Release Date: 11 October 2007

 

Investigation Status: Active

 

Aircraft Details

 

Aircraft Manufacturer: Boeing Co

 

Aircraft Model: 737-476

 

Aircraft Registration: VH-TJE

 

Serial Number: 24430

 

Type of Operation: High Capacity Air Transport

 

Damage to Aircraft: Nil

 

Departure Point: Perth, WA

 

Departure Time: 0544 WST

 

Destination: Sydney Airport

 

On 11 August 2007, a Boeing 737-476 aircraft, registered VH-TJE, was being operated on a scheduled passenger service between Perth, WA to Sydney, NSW. The flight crew consisted of a pilot in command, who was the pilot flying, and a copilot. The aircraft took off from Perth at 0544 Western Standard Time. About 2 hours 40 minutes later, the master caution light illuminated associated with low output pressure of the aircrafts main tank fuel pumps. The pilot in command observed that the centre tank fuel pump switches on the forward overhead panel were selected to the OFF position and he immediately selected them to the ON position.

 

The main fuel tanks were low on fuel and the investigation estimated that there was about 100 kg in each of the main tanks. The centre fuel tank contained about 4,700 kg of fuel when the master caution occurred. The flight continued on the flight planned route and landed at Sydney 51 minutes after the initial illumination of the master caution light.

 

The investigation is continuing.

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/inv ... 05093.aspx