Flight crew did not shut off the xfeed in a timely fashion allowing the fuel imbalance to develop.

Attributes
ACN	299785
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 350 flight time total : 12600 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	299785
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During cruise I wanted to empty the center fuel tank and at our attitude and approximately 400 pounds in the center tank it was necessary to open the xfeed and use the forward pump in the center tank. When the tank emptied I turned the pump off but failed to close the xfeed. As a result we ended with 2000 pounds more on the right main than the left main. We started to xfeed and landed with an imbalance of 970 pounds (our maximum is 1000 pounds). I was surprised that with all main pumps on, the differential pressure was great enough to cause this imbalance. In the future I will verbalize my fuel panel changes with the other pilot to try and have greater fuel awareness in the cockpit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC DID NOT SHUT OFF THE XFEED IN A TIMELY FASHION ALLOWING THE FUEL IMBALANCE TO DEVELOP.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE I WANTED TO EMPTY THE CTR FUEL TANK AND AT OUR ATTITUDE AND APPROX 400 LBS IN THE CTR TANK IT WAS NECESSARY TO OPEN THE XFEED AND USE THE FORWARD PUMP IN THE CTR TANK. WHEN THE TANK EMPTIED I TURNED THE PUMP OFF BUT FAILED TO CLOSE THE XFEED. AS A RESULT WE ENDED WITH 2000 LBS MORE ON THE R MAIN THAN THE L MAIN. WE STARTED TO XFEED AND LANDED WITH AN IMBALANCE OF 970 LBS (OUR MAX IS 1000 LBS). I WAS SURPRISED THAT WITH ALL MAIN PUMPS ON, THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THIS IMBALANCE. IN THE FUTURE I WILL VERBALIZE MY FUEL PANEL CHANGES WITH THE OTHER PLT TO TRY AND HAVE GREATER FUEL AWARENESS IN THE COCKPIT.

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.