An air carrier medium large transport had a fuel feed problem that fixed itself in-flight.

Attributes
ACN	239324
Time
Date	199304
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : rst
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	239324
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Shortly after level off at FL350, it was noted that fuel was unbalanced between #1 and #2 fuel tanks by approximately 200 pounds. Xfeed valve was selected to 'open' position and bright blue 'in transit' light did not illuminate. Instead, we had a blue light. After cycling xfeed circuit breaker to no avail, we noted that all fuel feed seemed to be from #2 tank. Request was made to descend to FL290. No change in fuel burn. It was apparent that all fuel being used was coming from #2 tank. #1 tank, if anything was increasing (approximately 1600 pound difference -- #1 6200 pounds, #2 4600 pounds). With time of the essence, I decided to land at first available airport. Emergency was declared as descent was started for landing at richmond, va (approximately 60 mi away). Passenger and flight attendants were advised. After leveling at 14000 ft, one more attempt was made to cycle the xfeed valve. It worked normally on several tries, fuel was then xfeeding normally and I decided to continue to charlotte, nc (destination). Passenger, ATC, and flight attendants were advised of cancellation of emergency. Landing without incident at cle approximately AZ15. Debriefed maintenance and chief pilot in person.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG HAD A FUEL FEED PROB THAT FIXED ITSELF INFLT.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL OFF AT FL350, IT WAS NOTED THAT FUEL WAS UNBALANCED BTWN #1 AND #2 FUEL TANKS BY APPROX 200 LBS. XFEED VALVE WAS SELECTED TO 'OPEN' POS AND BRIGHT BLUE 'IN TRANSIT' LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. INSTEAD, WE HAD A BLUE LIGHT. AFTER CYCLING XFEED CIRCUIT BREAKER TO NO AVAIL, WE NOTED THAT ALL FUEL FEED SEEMED TO BE FROM #2 TANK. REQUEST WAS MADE TO DSND TO FL290. NO CHANGE IN FUEL BURN. IT WAS APPARENT THAT ALL FUEL BEING USED WAS COMING FROM #2 TANK. #1 TANK, IF ANYTHING WAS INCREASING (APPROX 1600 LB DIFFERENCE -- #1 6200 LBS, #2 4600 LBS). WITH TIME OF THE ESSENCE, I DECIDED TO LAND AT FIRST AVAILABLE ARPT. EMER WAS DECLARED AS DSCNT WAS STARTED FOR LNDG AT RICHMOND, VA (APPROX 60 MI AWAY). PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS WERE ADVISED. AFTER LEVELING AT 14000 FT, ONE MORE ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CYCLE THE XFEED VALVE. IT WORKED NORMALLY ON SEVERAL TRIES, FUEL WAS THEN XFEEDING NORMALLY AND I DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO CHARLOTTE, NC (DEST). PAX, ATC, AND FLT ATTENDANTS WERE ADVISED OF CANCELLATION OF EMER. LNDG WITHOUT INCIDENT AT CLE APPROX AZ15. DEBRIEFED MAINT AND CHIEF PLT IN PERSON.

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.