What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-5)Aircraft was enroute to ewr from sju and was dispatched w/o fuel heater working. The plan was to fly the aircraft at a slightly lower altitude and at a faster cruise speed to keep the fuel temperature above zero degrees centigrade as required by the flight manual. Due to turbulance the pilot was unable to maintain his speed and the fuel temperature decreased. Unable to maintain fuel temp above freezing, the pilot initiated an emergency descent when he could not get immediate clearance to descend. Checking the Boeing manuals and the MEL, it appears that the manufacturer requires a descent to warmer temps when fuel temperature approaches zero desgrees centigrade. privacy data omitted privacy data omitted in any case based on the procedures in his handbook, the pilot exercised his emergency authority and no disciplinary action is warranted.
As the FAA filed it
(-5)AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE TO EWR FROM SJU AND WAS DISPATCHED W/O FUEL HEATER WORKING. THE PLAN WAS TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER ALTITUDE AND AT A FASTER CRUISE SPEED TO KEEP THE FUEL TEMPERATURE ABOVE ZERO DEGREES CENTIGRADE AS REQUIRED BY THE FLIGHT MANUAL. DUE TO TURBULANCE THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS SPEED AND THE FUEL TEMPERATURE DECREASED. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN FUEL TEMP ABOVE FREEZING, THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT WHEN HE COULD NOT GET IMMEDIATE CLEARANCE TO DESCEND. CHECKING THE BOEING MANUALS AND THE MEL, IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER REQUIRES A DESCENT TO WARMER TEMPS WHEN FUEL TEMPERATURE APPROACHES ZERO DESGREES CENTIGRADE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ IN ANY CASE BASED ON THE PROCEDURES IN HIS HANDBOOK, THE PILOT EXERCISED HIS EMERGENCY AUTHORITY AND NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS WARRANTED.