A B747-200 crew reported that at FL360 the flight engineer was feeding engines 1/2 from the fuel tan...

Narrative:

While approaching top of climb FL350 for FL360; number 2 engine rolled back (no stall or noise). [This was] followed by number 3 engine rolling back (slight rumbling sound). I asked the flight engineer if [I] was doing anything to cause this? He replied 'no'. Departing from an airport not frequented by our air carrier; I was thinking about possible fuel contamination and becoming a glider. We immediately performed a rapid restart. The attempt was unsuccessful. I called ATC and asked for a descent to FL250. While descending through FL310; we attempted another start; again unsuccessful. As we were passing through FL290 we attempted another start. This start was successful. The engines stabilized; and we elected to continue to [our destination]. [We] contacted ATC for climb back to FL360. The rest of the trip was uneventful. The first officer was at the controls. No engine parameters were ever exceeded. No oil pressure lights were ever illuminated.the flight engineer came to me today and informed me that he thought long and hard; and that he remembered having a little different fuel feed going on at the time of the event; and that he had e-mailed the chief pilot about it. (Outboard tanks to all engines) he was trying to even out the tanks. I not sure if this had anything to do with this occurrence; but I thought it is best not to omit anything.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B747-200 crew reported that at FL360 the Flight Engineer was feeding engines 1/2 from the fuel tank 1 and engines 3/4 from the tank 4 when engines 2 and 3 shutdown. The engines were restarted descending through FL290.

Narrative: While approaching top of climb FL350 for FL360; Number 2 Engine rolled back (no stall or noise). [This was] followed by Number 3 Engine rolling back (slight rumbling sound). I asked the Flight Engineer if [I] was doing anything to cause this? He replied 'no'. Departing from an airport not frequented by our air carrier; I was thinking about possible fuel contamination and becoming a glider. We immediately performed a Rapid Restart. The attempt was unsuccessful. I called ATC and asked for a descent to FL250. While descending through FL310; we attempted another start; again unsuccessful. As we were passing through FL290 we attempted another start. This start was successful. The engines stabilized; and we elected to continue to [our destination]. [We] contacted ATC for climb back to FL360. The rest of the trip was uneventful. The First Officer was at the controls. No engine parameters were ever exceeded. No oil pressure lights were ever illuminated.The Flight Engineer came to me today and informed me that he thought long and hard; and that he remembered having a little different fuel feed going on at the time of the event; and that he had e-mailed the Chief Pilot about it. (Outboard tanks to all engines) He was trying to even out the tanks. I not sure if this had anything to do with this occurrence; but I thought it is best not to omit anything.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1070593
Time
Date	201302
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B747-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Crossfeed
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Flight Engineer / Second Officer
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

A B747-200 crew reported that at FL360 the flight engineer was feeding engines 1/2 from the fuel tank 1 and engines 3/4 from the tank 4 when engines 2 and 3 shutdown. The engines were restarted descending through FL290.