B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I had just checked the total Fuel on Board (FOB) and the landing FOB and all indications were normal. Minutes later; during the descent into destination airport; the master caution illuminated; Fuel Imbalance; low fuel and 1;200 LBS indicating in the left main tank with 4;300 LBS indicating in the right main tank. Thinking fuel leak; we declared an emergency and diverted. Just as we were intercepting the final approach coarse; the left main tank started fluctuating up and down finally settling on 4;300 LBS. It was a fuel indication problem.
B717 Captain reports checking fuel just prior to descent for landing and finding all normal. During descent a fuel imbalance is annunciated with the left tank indicating 3;000 LBS less than the right. Thinking fuel leak an emergency is declared with a diversion to a closer airport. During approach the fuel imbalance disappears and the left tank again indicates the same as the right.