EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Human Factors
While at the gate in ZZZ; I noticed the fuel was below legal mins arriving at destination. I called Dispatch and while on the phone; First Officer told me he had put 67000 lbs ZFW [Zero Fuel Weight] (average ZFW based on experience) in the FMS instead of the PZFW of 51640 lbs on the release; Not realizing the error on the release; of a projected payload 1700 lbs; I told the dispatcher we made a mistake since the FMS showed us landing with 4000 lbs with the PZFW [Projected Zero Fuel Weight]. After final numbers; our ZFW was much closer to the figure my First Officer had placed to begin with. The projected numbers for fuel were between 2000 lbs and 2200 lbs of fuel. Not having caught the error regarding the payload; I determined this lower fuel estimate was due to my conservative wind estimate plus the step climbs down the road. Shortly after departing the airspace; the projected fuel went down to 1700-1800 lbs. Even taking the step climb early and getting a more accurate assessment of the winds we could not get the fuel at destination to go above 2000 lbs. I took a second look at the paperwork and realized the error regarding the expected payload. At this point; we decided to communicate with Dispatch that we may need a fuel stop. After some coordination; we opted to divert to ZZZ1; fueled at the de-ice pad and departed with no further issues. Dispatcher communicated to me that the payload error had been a missing zero on his end; however; I assume the responsibility of not catching this prior to departure. The error could have been mitigated any number of ways. A PZFW of less than 52000 lbs should have set off common sense alarms to me; I also should have investigated further when ACARS showed a discrepancy in PZFW and ZFW; however; I misread the value and thought it was far less. Once the error was caught; the safest course was action to divert; but earlier detection would have presented a more favorable outcome.
En route; Captain reported fuel burn was not as planned on paperwork. Flight diverted for fuel stop due to insufficient fuel to get to destination.Captain reported that fuel was off and suggested an alt. During preflight planning; payload was planned for 17;000 lbs; however; [it] mistakenly entered as 1700 (missing an extra 0). Issue went unnoticed during preflight.
Air carrier Dispatcher and EMB-175 Captain reported it was necessary to divert to an enroute alternate airport for a fuel stop because an error was made during preflight planning.