B747-200 crew had #4 engine roll back when it would not suction feed fuel from its fuel tank.

Attributes
ACN	518100
Time
Date	200107
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rjtg.artcc
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : rjtg.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	518100
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : engine instruments other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

The #4 xfeed valve was closed on climb out and overlooked when establishing xfeed at leveloff. After 5 mins, the #4 engine rolled back and the crew performed the engine failure checklist and initiated a descent. After securing the engine, the closed valve was discovered and a successful restart was performed. Most of our B747 aircraft have a warning system that will blink the fuel pressure lights if no fuel source is selected. This aircraft did not. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter said the flight was from rjaa to rctp. Because of the short leg the inboard mains only had about 700 pounds more than the onboard mains. The so accidentally closed the #4 xfeed when the #4 main tank pumps were off. The so did not know that the aircraft is supposed to suction feed fuel in this circumstance. The air carrier does not mention this requirement in the aircraft flight manual. The reporter thinks the air carrier needs to check that all aircraft are capable of suction feed and provide maintenance as necessary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747-200 CREW HAD #4 ENG ROLL BACK WHEN IT WOULD NOT SUCTION FEED FUEL FROM ITS FUEL TANK.

Narrative: THE #4 XFEED VALVE WAS CLOSED ON CLBOUT AND OVERLOOKED WHEN ESTABLISHING XFEED AT LEVELOFF. AFTER 5 MINS, THE #4 ENG ROLLED BACK AND THE CREW PERFORMED THE ENG FAILURE CHKLIST AND INITIATED A DSCNT. AFTER SECURING THE ENG, THE CLOSED VALVE WAS DISCOVERED AND A SUCCESSFUL RESTART WAS PERFORMED. MOST OF OUR B747 ACFT HAVE A WARNING SYS THAT WILL BLINK THE FUEL PRESSURE LIGHTS IF NO FUEL SOURCE IS SELECTED. THIS ACFT DID NOT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR SAID THE FLT WAS FROM RJAA TO RCTP. BECAUSE OF THE SHORT LEG THE INBOARD MAINS ONLY HAD ABOUT 700 LBS MORE THAN THE ONBOARD MAINS. THE SO ACCIDENTALLY CLOSED THE #4 XFEED WHEN THE #4 MAIN TANK PUMPS WERE OFF. THE SO DID NOT KNOW THAT THE ACFT IS SUPPOSED TO SUCTION FEED FUEL IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE. THE ACR DOES NOT MENTION THIS REQUIREMENT IN THE ACFT FLT MANUAL. THE RPTR THINKS THE ACR NEEDS TO CHK THAT ALL ACFT ARE CAPABLE OF SUCTION FEED AND PROVIDE MAINT AS NECESSARY.

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.