Narrative:

Problem was that due to different fuel burn and fuel loading it was necessary on the second log of an international flight to xfeed fuel between thanks on a widebody transport aircraft. After initial xfeed was completed, xfeed valves were closed except the #1 which is standard. At that time it was further necessary to balance tanks. There was approximately 25 mins left in the flight and as always more items to do at this time. WX for destination descent checks etc also crew meals were being served. Inadvertently the #4 xfeed was closed and fuel boost pumps off and #4 engine started to wind down from approximately 90% to 80% N1. At that time all xfeed valves were opened and all fuel boost pumps turned on and the engine recovered on its own. The engine could not have been without boost pump pressure for more than 3 mins. No further actions was required and a safe landing was made. This is the first aircraft I've flown that its engine will not suction feed. Possible correction action could be to enable the engines to suction feed and run without positive boost pump pressure. The fuel panel is not overly complicated but to add human factors to mechanical factors stated above. Fatigue, after departing ny flying to lisbon 6+00, 1+30 ground time and then off to barcelona spain. Crew meals being served late, 30 mins prior to landing added to the distraction. Also which might help is that all fuel boost pump switches should be toggle lock switches not just simple single action switches. This could enable the operator to have an extra second to think prior to initiating the switch. Also I'm still not 100% sure that I turned the fuel boost pump switches off. It is possible that by placing the crew meal tray in front of me the pumps could have been placed to off. With locking toggle switches this could not occur.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FE ON WDB INADVERTENTLY CUT OFF BOOST PUMPS TO #4 ENGINE CAUSING A FLAME OUT.

Narrative: PROBLEM WAS THAT DUE TO DIFFERENT FUEL BURN AND FUEL LOADING IT WAS NECESSARY ON THE SECOND LOG OF AN INTERNATIONAL FLT TO XFEED FUEL BETWEEN THANKS ON A WDB ACFT. AFTER INITIAL XFEED WAS COMPLETED, XFEED VALVES WERE CLOSED EXCEPT THE #1 WHICH IS STANDARD. AT THAT TIME IT WAS FURTHER NECESSARY TO BALANCE TANKS. THERE WAS APPROX 25 MINS LEFT IN THE FLT AND AS ALWAYS MORE ITEMS TO DO AT THIS TIME. WX FOR DEST DSCNT CHECKS ETC ALSO CREW MEALS WERE BEING SERVED. INADVERTENTLY THE #4 XFEED WAS CLOSED AND FUEL BOOST PUMPS OFF AND #4 ENGINE STARTED TO WIND DOWN FROM APPROX 90% TO 80% N1. AT THAT TIME ALL XFEED VALVES WERE OPENED AND ALL FUEL BOOST PUMPS TURNED ON AND THE ENGINE RECOVERED ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN WITHOUT BOOST PUMP PRESSURE FOR MORE THAN 3 MINS. NO FURTHER ACTIONS WAS REQUIRED AND A SAFE LNDG WAS MADE. THIS IS THE FIRST ACFT I'VE FLOWN THAT ITS ENGINE WILL NOT SUCTION FEED. POSSIBLE CORRECTION ACTION COULD BE TO ENABLE THE ENGINES TO SUCTION FEED AND RUN WITHOUT POSITIVE BOOST PUMP PRESSURE. THE FUEL PANEL IS NOT OVERLY COMPLICATED BUT TO ADD HUMAN FACTORS TO MECHANICAL FACTORS STATED ABOVE. FATIGUE, AFTER DEPARTING NY FLYING TO LISBON 6+00, 1+30 GND TIME AND THEN OFF TO BARCELONA SPAIN. CREW MEALS BEING SERVED LATE, 30 MINS PRIOR TO LNDG ADDED TO THE DISTR. ALSO WHICH MIGHT HELP IS THAT ALL FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCHES SHOULD BE TOGGLE LOCK SWITCHES NOT JUST SIMPLE SINGLE ACTION SWITCHES. THIS COULD ENABLE THE OPERATOR TO HAVE AN EXTRA SECOND TO THINK PRIOR TO INITIATING THE SWITCH. ALSO I'M STILL NOT 100% SURE THAT I TURNED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCHES OFF. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BY PLACING THE CREW MEAL TRAY IN FRONT OF ME THE PUMPS COULD HAVE BEEN PLACED TO OFF. WITH LOCKING TOGGLE SWITCHES THIS COULD NOT OCCUR.

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.