Air carrier heavy transport engine flameout at altitude due to fuel tank boost pumps not being on.

Attributes
ACN	157142
Time
Date	199009
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 36200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : bos
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	157142
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At engine start (#3) in boston, ma, ignitors B unknowingly were inoperative. We aborted start and performed no start checklist (it called for #3 boost pump off). #3 boost pump switch was bent upward prior to and after cockpit check. 2 other checklist call for 'fuel panel set' but switch appeared to be on when it was actually off (due to the bent switch). Climbing through 36200' #3 engine flamed out but fuel pressure was adequate. In flight start was attempted at FL350 and unsuccessful (after performing 'engine flame out' checklist which called for boost pump on, fuel xfeed levers open. At this time pump error was discovered). 16 mins later in-flight checklist accomplished. Descent was made to 22000' to attempt another start. Using checklist engine still did not start due to circuit breaker popped during attempt. Reset circuit breaker but engine no start. During 16 mins with xfeeds open mysteriously 4000 # of fuel left #3 main tank and 2000 # of 4000 # fuel just disappeared and was not accounted for. Fuel was rebalanced and flight landed at destination with #3 inoperative. Bent boost pump switch caused pump to appear on but engine nash pump is adequate if it operates. (No checklist or procedure calls to check nash pump prior to takeoff in the vent of a failed boost pump). Fuel xferred mysteriously and disappeared factor unknown but assumption that xfeeds open could somehow cause it. Too many questions asked by ATC at time of engine flame out checklist (initial emergency procedure) kept captain (checklist partner) from continuing checklist prolonging a 3 min checklist to 16.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR HVT ENGINE FLAMEOUT AT ALT DUE TO FUEL TANK BOOST PUMPS NOT BEING ON.

Narrative: AT ENG START (#3) IN BOSTON, MA, IGNITORS B UNKNOWINGLY WERE INOPERATIVE. WE ABORTED START AND PERFORMED NO START CHKLIST (IT CALLED FOR #3 BOOST PUMP OFF). #3 BOOST PUMP SWITCH WAS BENT UPWARD PRIOR TO AND AFTER COCKPIT CHK. 2 OTHER CHKLIST CALL FOR 'FUEL PANEL SET' BUT SWITCH APPEARED TO BE ON WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY OFF (DUE TO THE BENT SWITCH). CLBING THROUGH 36200' #3 ENG FLAMED OUT BUT FUEL PRESSURE WAS ADEQUATE. IN FLT START WAS ATTEMPTED AT FL350 AND UNSUCCESSFUL (AFTER PERFORMING 'ENG FLAME OUT' CHKLIST WHICH CALLED FOR BOOST PUMP ON, FUEL XFEED LEVERS OPEN. AT THIS TIME PUMP ERROR WAS DISCOVERED). 16 MINS LATER INFLT CHKLIST ACCOMPLISHED. DSNT WAS MADE TO 22000' TO ATTEMPT ANOTHER START. USING CHKLIST ENG STILL DID NOT START DUE TO CB POPPED DURING ATTEMPT. RESET CB BUT ENG NO START. DURING 16 MINS WITH XFEEDS OPEN MYSTERIOUSLY 4000 # OF FUEL LEFT #3 MAIN TANK AND 2000 # OF 4000 # FUEL JUST DISAPPEARED AND WAS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. FUEL WAS REBALANCED AND FLT LANDED AT DEST WITH #3 INOPERATIVE. BENT BOOST PUMP SWITCH CAUSED PUMP TO APPEAR ON BUT ENG NASH PUMP IS ADEQUATE IF IT OPERATES. (NO CHKLIST OR PROC CALLS TO CHK NASH PUMP PRIOR TO TKOF IN THE VENT OF A FAILED BOOST PUMP). FUEL XFERRED MYSTERIOUSLY AND DISAPPEARED FACTOR UNKNOWN BUT ASSUMPTION THAT XFEEDS OPEN COULD SOMEHOW CAUSE IT. TOO MANY QUESTIONS ASKED BY ATC AT TIME OF ENG FLAME OUT CHKLIST (INITIAL EMER PROC) KEPT CAPT (CHKLIST PARTNER) FROM CONTINUING CHKLIST PROLONGING A 3 MIN CHKLIST TO 16.

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