A300
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Ground Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; MEL; Procedure
While checking the fuel slip and comparing it with the previous flight block in fuel; FO (First Officer) discovered a 6;500-lb. discrepancy. We called Maintenance and asked about another fuel ticket. Maintenance advised us that they could not find one but assumed that fuel was added to the aircraft because of an Inner Tank Fuel MEL was worked on and cleared. I asked if they were going to make the appropriate AML write-up and look for paperwork and they advised that they would and would get back with us. After about 15 minutes; we had not heard from them; so we called and was told that they couldn't find the fuel slip but they were going to come out and check our fuel quantity using the magnetic level indicators. I went downstairs to check on the progress and was informed by Maintenance that they had checked the levels but were going to stick the tanks to recheck. I went back to the cockpit and a several minutes later was informed by an AMT that the Right Inner Tank only had around 4;000 lb. of fuel in it versus the 10;500 lb. that was reading on the Fuel Quantity Indicator. Fuel was uplifted; the tank quantity rechecked; and the previous MEL that was cleared was reinstated.The aircraft had the Inner Tank MEL for several flights prior to being worked on. Not sure if part that was replaced failed or what could have happened. Comparing fuel slips with previous flight block-in fuel is a good check; and my FO made a good catch. Maybe this should be a policy for anyone who fuels; de-fuels our aircraft. Additional training of this would be beneficial during ground school and/or tri-annual training.
A300 Captain reported the First Officer discovered a fuel upload discrepancy and a subsequent check by Maintenance revealed that there was 6;500 pounds less fuel onboard than requested.