A330
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft
Possible fuel leak; below minimum required fuel indicating; while several hundred miles out over ocean with no place to land nearby. First declared minimum fuel; [we were] considering a diversion [to a closer alternate] instead of [continuing to] destination. With unknown quantity and declining indications; advise a fuel emergency. [We were] able to land [at destination]. Still not sure of actual quantity after landing; but suspected erroneous indications due to previous problem a week earlier [on] this plane. All was done with concurrence [of] Dispatcher and Maintenance Control.Previous similar problem was incurred with this aircraft; and probable repair attempt left problem remaining. Previous problem also came upon return from [a European station]; so additional concern was possible water in fuel there.
This was a trans-Atlantic flight that experienced a fuel indication issue. About 90 minutes prior to our re-dispatch point we requested and received a re-dispatch from our dispatcher. Our fuel log throughout the entire Atlantic crossing was on target. About ten minutes prior to the re-dispatch point we noticed that the number two main fuel tank indications began fluctuating by as much as 2-3 thousand pounds. This same situation had been documented a week earlier in the Aircraft Maintenance Log (AML). This difference in fuel would adversely affect our planned re-dispatch fuel requirement. The Captain used the SATCOM to talk directly with our dispatcher; who was able to adjust our re-dispatch requirements to accommodate the situation; allowing us to continue [to] our destination. The Captain also brought Maintenance Control into the discussion for their input and assistance. The Captain and dispatcher agreed that it would be prudent to request 'minimum fuel priority' from ATC as a precaution at that time.We continued to monitor and crosscheck our fuel burn as we approached our coast in point. Approximately one hour from [destination] and still over-water; we initiated a preliminary descent to twenty thousand feet. At this point the FMC gave fluctuating and conflicting indications that we would now land three to four thousand pounds below our legal arrival fuel limit. The Captain again conferred with Dispatch and they ultimately decided that given our circumstances and current position that it would be best to continue straight-in to [destination]. It was decided that because of the questionable fuel indications we would advise of an emergency due to the fuel issue.We received vectors straight to the airport and an uneventful approach and landing was made. After landing our indicated fuel was 15;100 pounds; well within our tolerances for a legal arrival. A detailed AML entry was made to assist maintenance with trouble-shooting this fuel indication issue.It appears that the fuel indication anomaly that we experienced was very similar to an event that was documented in the AML of this aircraft a few days prior.
A330 flight crew reported experiencing a fuel quantity anomaly on a trans-Atlantic flight that indicated a possible fuel leak. The flight was able to safely continue to destination.