B737-700
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 562; Flight Crew Type 6750
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
Shortly after level off; I noted that the wing fuel tanks had dropped from approximately 8;600 at push to 8;450 while burning the center tank. 30 minutes later; the wing tanks each read 8;300 and I asked the flight attendants and a commuting Company Captain to scan the wings for streaming fuel; no fuel streaming was observed by any of the three crew members. By the time the center tank was empty; 107 minutes after takeoff; the left fuel tank read 8;010 and the right tank read 8;030. It should be noted that we took off with 900 pounds more fuel than planned; and with better than planned winds and temperatures (colder); and a shortcut to our route; our FMC arrival fuel was decreasing to only the exact planned arrival fuel of 9.5. Under those conditions; I would have expected to see 800-1;000 pounds more than planned arrival; so I suspected the lost fuel from the wings was being lost to the atmosphere; and not burned by the engines. Because the suspected leak was not severe; the First Officer and I discussed the situation and decided to continue to [destination]; where we would then call Maintenance.We landed [and] exited the runway. Our gate was occupied; so Ground Control told us to hold short. A few seconds after we came to a stop both the First Officer and I got a very strong smell of jet fuel. I called the flight attendants and they also had the strong smell of jet fuel both in the forward and aft galleys. I became concerned about a possible explosion and I briefly considered evacuating the aircraft; but we were very near an active runway and I also didn't want passengers evacuating into the possible fuel leak. I asked the First Officer to immediately get us a gate and I told Ground Control that we wanted to keep moving so our warm/hot brakes and engines weren't sitting on top of a growing puddle of fuel. I then made a PA telling the passengers we were aware of the smell and we would be on a gate shortly. As we taxied around; an airport operations truck got behind us and reported that he did not see fuel leaking from our aircraft. At that time Operations told us our new gate was open. I then called the flight attendants and told them we would be on the gate in a minute and that I wanted everyone to get off the aircraft and into the terminal as efficiently as possible and they weren't to take their bags. I then made another PA telling the passengers the same thing I had just told the flight attendants. After the front door opened; the passengers got off the aircraft and waited in the terminal for 20 minutes while Maintenance checked the aircraft. After checking the exterior of the aircraft; Maintenance cleared the passengers to go back on to get their belongings.
The only thing I wish I had done better was to talk to the Captain more about what he was thinking while we were airborne and possible scenarios if we truly did have a fuel leak on landing. I was taken off guard; and didn't have time to discuss what was going on when we landed. I was busy trying to coordinate with OPS and Ground.
B737-700 flight crew reported a fuel leak was suspected due to abnormal fuel burn and a strong fuel smell after landing; but no fuel leak was detected.