Narrative:

FAA inspector rode jumpseat with us on flight from den to sfo on jun/xx/96. He mentioned that he was involved with our air carrier new simulator pc profile in the sfo area and wanted to observe line operations. The flight was uneventful. After the flight, the inspector had one critique item for the so, it was in reference to the fuel panel confign during takeoff. Since #2 fuel tank contained only slightly more fuel than tanks #1 and #3, the so decided to open xfeed valve #2 and close #1 and #3 (tank to engine). This was done in order to prevent a possible fuel imbalance (2000 pounds less in #2 tank than #1 or #3) if he happened to be distraction shortly after takeoff. After takeoff, (when the so had more time to monitor the fuel system) he returned to the normal procedures. During debriefing, the aci informed the so that he should have opened all xfeeds for takeoff. The so knew the procedure but, for the above reason decided to modify it. After the critique I had the distinct impression that this was a closed item. There is a very easy fix to this problem. Add 'fuel system -- monitor' to the after takeoff checklist. It used to be in the checklist approximately 3 yrs ago but was deleted.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING POSTFLT DEBRIEF, ACI FAULTED SO FOR NOT FOLLOWING SOP FOR FUEL XFEED POS DURING TKOF. BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST SLIGHTLY MORE FUEL IN THE TANK #2 THAN IN TANKS #1 AND #3, THE SO SET THE PANEL UP WITH #1 AND #3 XFEED VALVES CLOSED AND #2 OPEN. SOP CALLS FOR ALL XFEEDS OPEN, REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT OF FUEL.

Narrative: FAA INSPECTOR RODE JUMPSEAT WITH US ON FLT FROM DEN TO SFO ON JUN/XX/96. HE MENTIONED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED WITH OUR ACR NEW SIMULATOR PC PROFILE IN THE SFO AREA AND WANTED TO OBSERVE LINE OPS. THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. AFTER THE FLT, THE INSPECTOR HAD ONE CRITIQUE ITEM FOR THE SO, IT WAS IN REF TO THE FUEL PANEL CONFIGN DURING TKOF. SINCE #2 FUEL TANK CONTAINED ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE FUEL THAN TANKS #1 AND #3, THE SO DECIDED TO OPEN XFEED VALVE #2 AND CLOSE #1 AND #3 (TANK TO ENG). THIS WAS DONE IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE FUEL IMBALANCE (2000 LBS LESS IN #2 TANK THAN #1 OR #3) IF HE HAPPENED TO BE DISTR SHORTLY AFTER TKOF. AFTER TKOF, (WHEN THE SO HAD MORE TIME TO MONITOR THE FUEL SYS) HE RETURNED TO THE NORMAL PROCS. DURING DEBRIEFING, THE ACI INFORMED THE SO THAT HE SHOULD HAVE OPENED ALL XFEEDS FOR TKOF. THE SO KNEW THE PROC BUT, FOR THE ABOVE REASON DECIDED TO MODIFY IT. AFTER THE CRITIQUE I HAD THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS A CLOSED ITEM. THERE IS A VERY EASY FIX TO THIS PROB. ADD 'FUEL SYS -- MONITOR' TO THE AFTER TKOF CHKLIST. IT USED TO BE IN THE CHKLIST APPROX 3 YRS AGO BUT WAS DELETED.

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.