Just a thought for the boffins
AAIB report:
Detailed examination of both the left and right engine high
pressure fuel pumps revealed signs of abnormal cavitation
on the pressure-side bearings and the outlet ports. This
could be indicative of either a restriction in the fuel
supply to the pumps or excessive aeration of the fuel. The
manufacturer assessed both pumps as still being capable
of delivering full fuel flow.
If there was a restriction upstream from the HPFP’s would the effect be to cause the pumps to effectively stall and prevent them from working? A cavitating pump does not generally pump much even if it is:
“capable of delivering full fuel flow”.
Such a scenario would account for only minimal amount of fuel reaching the engine. Has there been a fleet check of the pumps to ascertain whether this is a one off or a common defect?
There is also a major discrepancy with the planned fuel burn and the actual. Planned burn including taxi fuel would work out at 72,000 kgs actual burn to short finals was only 68,500 based on the AAIB figures. Was this based on FMC fuel indications or gauge indications?
Unless there was a reason for a 5% difference such as an improved route or altitudes it seems a little large to me.