B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure; Manuals; Human Factors
B757 Captain: reference Center CTR R fuel pump EICAS message.  On the B757 preflight we check the Center Tank Pumps when there is center tank fuel. One of the critical checks given all the Center Tank Pump modifications (mods) post TWA 800 is to ensure that when there is fuel in the [center] tank AND the Fueling Bay Door is closed; that the Center Pump Pressure Lights illuminate along with the associated CTR L FUEL PUMP and CTR R FUEL PUMP EICAS messages are displayed.  Reference B757-B767 AFM 3.20.18. On my B757 flights in the past two weeks involving center tank fuel; I have had five instances where the CTR R FUEL PUMP EICAS message failed to appear.  Each time it was the Right Center Pump message and not the left. Various fixes have included resetting the Fueling Bay door; resetting the Fuel Processor; replacing the Fuel Processor; replacing the Right Center Fuel pump switch or simply deferring it. The problem with the deferral is that all of the center tank fuel onboard becomes structural check fuel and is added to the Zero Fuel Weight.  On the flights where it has been deferred; we have had to remove passengers; mail; cargo and sometimes all three.  I bring this to your attention because this seems to be a recent phenomenon and it has always involved the Center Right Pump; not the Left Pump.  Sounds like there could be a common issue here.
Reporter said company Engineering had identified several B757s with similar problems. Some were caused by the Fuel Quantity Indicating System (FQIS) Processor internal circuit board cards faulting and the other from the momentary 'PRESS' fuel switches not contacting very well at the Overhead Fuel Management Panel (P5). Part of the troubleshooting was to electrically Power-Down and Power-Up the aircraft. When the same issue of the missing EICAS message recurred; a BITE Test of the FQIS Processor was accomplished that showed a fault with one of the A/B Channels in the FQIS Processor had occurred. Reporter stated there never was a problem with the Center Tank Fuel Pump Pressure Lights illuminating during the preflight check; only the EICAS message not appearing. Some clarifying procedural language was added to their Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) preflight check to make sure that all four Left and Right Main fuel tank boost pumps are switched on first and then select the Left/Right Center Fuel Pumps to 'On'; after the Fueling Bay Door is closed.  That procedure should generate the required CTR L FUEL PUMP and CTR R FUEL PUMP EICAS message; because both center tank pumps are not suppose to pressurize while the aircraft is on the ground; only when airborne due to the TWA Flight 800 enter fuel tank accident. He was very satisfied with the effort demonstrated by their Fleet Engineering group to resolve the issue of the Center Right Fuel Pump EICAS message not appearing after the B757 Fueling Bay Door was closed.
A Captain reports he's had five instances where the CTR R FUEL PUMP EICAS message failed to appear on B757 aircraft after the Fueling Bay Door was closed.