PIC failed to turn on center tank fuel pumps when selecting center tank fuel.

Attributes
ACN	103238
Time
Date	198901
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 15000
ASRS Report	103238
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The procedure for using fuel from the center tank with our company is addressed on the starting checklist. All that is mentioned is 'fuel pump.' the reply is, 'on.' with over 1000 pounds in the center tank we use the center tank fuel pumps. With less fuel, we leave the pumps off and use only the mains. Because of the nature of most trip segments, only the wing tanks and fuel pumps (mains) we used. On the start checklist the only time fuel pumps are addressed, no particular reference is made to the center tank fuel (ie, fuel pumps). Twice on a particular trip this week, I overlooked turning the center pumps on. One time I caught the error in the cruise segment of the flight. The second time the first officer was flying and I overlooked the fuel pumps completely. We landed with 6000 pounds fuel in the center tank and 1800# in each main. This of course is not company policy and could cause a serious problem. The center fuel tank will not suction fuel. In our case all we had to do was transfer fuel on the ground when we were refueled. Nothing more happened, however the potential existed for a possible dual flame out. I feel center tank fuel should be addressed as a separate item on the checklist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC FAILED TO TURN ON CENTER TANK FUEL PUMPS WHEN SELECTING CENTER TANK FUEL.

Narrative: THE PROC FOR USING FUEL FROM THE CENTER TANK WITH OUR COMPANY IS ADDRESSED ON THE STARTING CHKLIST. ALL THAT IS MENTIONED IS 'FUEL PUMP.' THE REPLY IS, 'ON.' WITH OVER 1000 LBS IN THE CENTER TANK WE USE THE CENTER TANK FUEL PUMPS. WITH LESS FUEL, WE LEAVE THE PUMPS OFF AND USE ONLY THE MAINS. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF MOST TRIP SEGMENTS, ONLY THE WING TANKS AND FUEL PUMPS (MAINS) WE USED. ON THE START CHKLIST THE ONLY TIME FUEL PUMPS ARE ADDRESSED, NO PARTICULAR REF IS MADE TO THE CENTER TANK FUEL (IE, FUEL PUMPS). TWICE ON A PARTICULAR TRIP THIS WK, I OVERLOOKED TURNING THE CENTER PUMPS ON. ONE TIME I CAUGHT THE ERROR IN THE CRUISE SEGMENT OF THE FLT. THE SECOND TIME THE F/O WAS FLYING AND I OVERLOOKED THE FUEL PUMPS COMPLETELY. WE LANDED WITH 6000 LBS FUEL IN THE CENTER TANK AND 1800# IN EACH MAIN. THIS OF COURSE IS NOT COMPANY POLICY AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS PROB. THE CENTER FUEL TANK WILL NOT SUCTION FUEL. IN OUR CASE ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS TRANSFER FUEL ON THE GND WHEN WE WERE REFUELED. NOTHING MORE HAPPENED, HOWEVER THE POTENTIAL EXISTED FOR A POSSIBLE DUAL FLAME OUT. I FEEL CENTER TANK FUEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SEPARATE ITEM ON THE CHKLIST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.