Date: 201909
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Airspace: Class C ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Captain
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Work Refused
Contributing factors: Human Factors; MEL; Procedure; Aircraft; Company Policy
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Our aircraft had a MEL for high level fuel sensors. This required gravity fueling to occur instead of pressure fueling in the left wing. I informed the fuelers this was necessary prior to any fueling activities. At this point [the Captain] and I got off the plane. When we settled back into the flight deck we noticed they were pressure fueling. On instruction from my Captain; I went back outside to ask if they would come up and talk to [the Captain] about the situation. They acknowledged me so I went back to the flight deck. I went down again when it was clear they had no intention of coming to talk to the Captain. They then drove off before I could ask a second time.The flight crew took every action to comply with the MEL by telling ground crew we needed gravity fueling. So the question is why did the ground crew continue to pressure fuel our aircraft and why did they drive off instead of coming to talk to the Captain as I requested? This occurred at ZZZ. Additionally; almost exactly as this incident occurred; in the morning on our flight to ZZZ the same situation occurred. So a total of two times where the crew advised ground crew of the procedure we needed and it was not accomplished and ground crew didn't seem to be concerned with it.


Second narrative: Our aircraft had MEL (High Level Sensors) that required gravity fueling into the affected (left) wing. On arrival of the fueler; the FO (First Officer) notified them of the deferral; and the requirement to over-wing fuel the left wing. Both pilots then stepped off the aircraft. Upon our return; we noted that the fueler had disregarded our instruction; and elected to pressure-fuel both wings. At that point the fueling was nearly complete; and could not be stopped. On my instruction; I sent the FO to ask the fueler to come to the flight deck; so that I could ascertain why he had pressure-fueled the left wing. We then completed several routine preflight duties (clearance verification; briefing; etc.); and afterward noted that the fueler had driven away.It is beyond comprehension why the fueler chose to disregard our instruction to gravity-fuel the left wing; aside from perhaps avoiding the inconvenience of doing so. From my perspective; we (the flight crew) took every opportunity to ensure that the MEL was complied with appropriately. Also; presumably; the Dispatcher had notified the Station of our unique requirement. We notified the fueler upon his arrival at the aircraft (pre-fueling); and again during fueling; of the need to over-wing fuel the left wing. We were instead met with insolence. This occurrence was witnessed by the Pushback Coordinator; who can attest to the conversation between the FO and fueler. Additionally; it should be noted that a nearly identical situation occurred for our earlier departure from ZZZ today.


Synopsis: CRJ-200 flight crew reported ground crew pressure-fueling their aircraft despite being advised that an MEL required gravity fueling.