Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Upon arrival at the gate; my First Officer left the airplane to do a preflight walk around for our return flight. After a few minutes; he returned and asked me to accompany him outside. Under the left wing; forward of the main landing gear; we found a puddle (around 20 inches in diameter) of fuel and an active leak. The leak was not fast but at the time was dripping out approximately one drop per second. You could also see a trail of fuel from where we taxied into our parking position. I approached the Ground Crew and informed them that we had an active fuel leak and that we would be calling ARFF (Airport Rescue and Firefighting) and Maintenance to get it to check out. I asked my FO (First Officer) to inform ATC that we had a fuel leak on the ramp while I went up to inform the gate agents and asked them to hold boarding due to the safety concern of fuel on the ramp. I called Dispatch and [Maintenance Control] to inform them of the fuel leak and asked for contract Maintenance to come out and look at the aircraft. I also reported our situation to the [Chief Pilot]. ARFF arrived at the airplane and sprayed foam under the aircraft and left wing. Contract Maintenance arrived and removed the landing gear fairings to look for the leak. After over an hour of looking for the leak and working with our [Maintenance Control] to try different aircraft configurations; the contract Maintenance signed off our logbook; and we departed. After takeoff; we were informed by Tower that ARFF had found another puddle of fuel at our push back position. There was also a trail of fuel leading to the runway. I elected to continue and monitor the fuel status to make sure we had the endurance to make it. I advised Dispatch via ACARS of the report from the Tower; and they advised us to do the same. Center controllers had information that we had an active fuel leak and asked if we needed any assistance. I advised them that we did not. After landing; I inspected the aircraft to find a leak in the same location. I took some pictures which I attempted to email to Maintenance that showed the fuel streak from the wing root to the tail of the aircraft. Local Maintenance was informed; and I also spoke to the [Chief Pilot] again.
CRJ-200 Captain reported his First Officer found a relatively minor fuel leak before departure; which was deferred; but the leak appeared to have worsened during their flight.