Date: 201209
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Powerplant Fuel System
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer
Human factors: Other / Unknown
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Automation Aircraft Other Automation; Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate; Taxi
Result: General Maintenance Action; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Company Policy
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: I was scheduled to operate a flight and upon arrival at the aircraft there was an open write-up for a right fuel filter caution message. There was a previous write up earlier that day that was also for the right fuel filter caution message. Write-up one: 'After Start #2 engine; received an intermittent right fuel filter caution message.' Corrective action: 'Discrepancy no longer exists as per Maintenance no further action is required. System self reset.' Second write-Up: 'During Flight received a right fuel filter caution message twice as power was reduced complied with QRH.' Maintenance arrived at the aircraft and said they were waiting for a part to arrive from another location; and that we would most likely not be going until the part arrived. Maintenance then informed us a short time later that the plan was to clear the write-up and fly the aircraft to another base but a mechanic would be flying with us to the base in order to have a mechanic in place to reset the system if the issue was to reoccur. Then the fuel filter would be replaced upon return once the part arrived. At this point we contacted Maintenance Control to inquire about the situation. The Maintenance Controller listened to our concerns and referred the call to the Maintenance Supervisor. The Maintenance Supervisor affirmed that this was the current plan of action. We then contacted the Chief Pilot on call and talked over the situation. He listened to our concerns. At this point the Captain refused the aircraft. Crew Scheduling then replaced the Captain with a ready Reserve Captain. After inquiring about the situation he also refused to operate the aircraft in it current condition; a short time later we were informed that the aircraft had been fixed. Upon arrival at the aircraft the corrective action for the second write-up read in part; Second right up corrective action: 'Removed and replaced right-hand engine fuel filter element' The aircraft maintenance log was signed off with the appropriate airworthiness release. After arriving at the aircraft and reading the corrective action we boarded the aircraft and pushed back. About 30 seconds after the start of the right engine we had a right fuel filter caution message appear. The message flashed 4 to 5 times from the time we started the right engine and the time we returned to the gate; this totaling 17 minutes of block time. The flight was subsequently canceled.




Synopsis: CRJ200 reports being assigned to an aircraft with a previous logbook entry for a right fuel filter caution message which had been signed off as self corrected; and an open write up for the same indication. The crew is asked by the company to fly a round trip without actual repairs and the aircraft is refused. The logbook is signed off by Maintenance as 'removed and replaced right-hand fuel filter' however the message returns after a new Captain is assigned and the aircraft is again refused.