A Boeing 737 freighter similar to the subject aircraft. Photo (c) J Williams via Jetphotos
Boeing 737-484SF ZK-TLL, Incorrect fuel configuration Sydney to Auckland, 7 June 2022
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
What happened
On 7 June 2022, Boeing 737 registration ZK-TLL, operated by Airwork Flight Operations Limited (the operator) as flight number AWK2, landed at Auckland Airport after a night flight from Sydney. It had been a dedicated freight flight with two crew on board.
After landing and while taxiing the plane to stand, the flight crew noticed that the centre fuel tank still had 4000 kilograms (kg) of fuel, but there was minimal fuel left in the two main tanks that were feeding the engines. They discovered that the centre fuel pumps had remained off for the entire flight when they should have been selected on during the engine start procedure in Sydney.
Why it happened
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (Commission) found that the flight crew omitted to turn on the centre fuel pumps when preparing the aircraft for the flight.
The distractions of a last-minute change to the departure runway and an impending airport curfew very likely contributed to the omission.
The Commission found that the flight had departed Sydney with a flight plan that nominated alternate aerodromes that were not compliant with regulatory or company flight-planning requirements. The operator’s operational staff had not provided weather updates and flight planning for the flight as prescribed in their manuals.
What we can learn
Pilots need to ensure that procedures and checklists involving critical aircraft systems are completed with rigour and be aware of potential distractions.
Operational staff need to follow the procedures detailed in their manuals to provide support to flight crew for extended-range flights.
Pilots should ensure that flight plans for their flights are compliant with operator and regulatory procedures for alternate aerodrome planning.
Who may benefit
Pilots, operators and operations staff will benefit from reading this report.
On 7 June 2022, Boeing 737 registration ZK-TLL, operated by Airwork Flight Operations Limited (the operator) as flight number AWK2, landed at Auckland Airport after a night flight from Sydney. It had been a dedicated freight flight with two crew on board.
After landing and while taxiing the plane to stand, the flight crew noticed that the centre fuel tank still had 4000 kilograms (kg) of fuel, but there was minimal fuel left in the two main tanks that were feeding the engines. They discovered that the centre fuel pumps had remained off for the entire flight when they should have been selected on during the engine start procedure in Sydney.
Why it happened
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (Commission) found that the flight crew omitted to turn on the centre fuel pumps when preparing the aircraft for the flight.
The distractions of a last-minute change to the departure runway and an impending airport curfew very likely contributed to the omission.
The Commission found that the flight had departed Sydney with a flight plan that nominated alternate aerodromes that were not compliant with regulatory or company flight-planning requirements. The operator’s operational staff had not provided weather updates and flight planning for the flight as prescribed in their manuals.
What we can learn
Pilots need to ensure that procedures and checklists involving critical aircraft systems are completed with rigour and be aware of potential distractions.
Operational staff need to follow the procedures detailed in their manuals to provide support to flight crew for extended-range flights.
Pilots should ensure that flight plans for their flights are compliant with operator and regulatory procedures for alternate aerodrome planning.
Who may benefit
Pilots, operators and operations staff will benefit from reading this report.