Narrative:

We had (if I remember right), less than 3000 pounds in the center tank at the start of the trip. Naturally, this happened in cruise. I think the captain turned on the center tank pumps near the top of climb, or around there. Captain is a very detailed person and does a great job as captain. Rarely (after 4 days of flying) did I see him make even a small mistake. So, when he was so detailed in all he did, I must have accidentally let my guard down. Sadly, on the last leg of a 4-DAY trip, I failed to prevent the captain from burning down the fuelin the center tank to 1000 pounds. I usually clip my identify badge to the steering yoke, to remind me to watch the fuel tightly, so as to stop the center tank fuel at 1000 pounds. I forgot to do that. I will do it next time! I truly believe that it would help dramatically if the captain would keep the first officer more in the loop with the fuel usage. Majority of capts do not. They never tell you when fuel pumps are turned 'on' or 'off,' or when they 'open' or 'close' the fuel xfeed. Instead, I usually just get 'notified' by visually seeing it already done in cockpit scan. It would be better that the captain kept the first officer in his loop. Plus other factors: I fly the -300's and -200's much more than the -700. So, I am used to seeing the fuel burn down to zero in the center tank. For me, the -700 is much more rare. Harder to remember to do things like the center tank burn to 1000 pounds, when your mindset is used to a typical -300 or -200, and not the rare -700.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 WAS OPERATED IN NON COMPLIANCE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AD 2002-18-52 BY BURNING CTR TANK FUEL TO BELOW 1000 LBS.

Narrative: WE HAD (IF I REMEMBER RIGHT), LESS THAN 3000 LBS IN THE CTR TANK AT THE START OF THE TRIP. NATURALLY, THIS HAPPENED IN CRUISE. I THINK THE CAPT TURNED ON THE CTR TANK PUMPS NEAR THE TOP OF CLB, OR AROUND THERE. CAPT IS A VERY DETAILED PERSON AND DOES A GREAT JOB AS CAPT. RARELY (AFTER 4 DAYS OF FLYING) DID I SEE HIM MAKE EVEN A SMALL MISTAKE. SO, WHEN HE WAS SO DETAILED IN ALL HE DID, I MUST HAVE ACCIDENTALLY LET MY GUARD DOWN. SADLY, ON THE LAST LEG OF A 4-DAY TRIP, I FAILED TO PREVENT THE CAPT FROM BURNING DOWN THE FUELIN THE CTR TANK TO 1000 LBS. I USUALLY CLIP MY IDENT BADGE TO THE STEERING YOKE, TO REMIND ME TO WATCH THE FUEL TIGHTLY, SO AS TO STOP THE CTR TANK FUEL AT 1000 LBS. I FORGOT TO DO THAT. I WILL DO IT NEXT TIME! I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD HELP DRAMATICALLY IF THE CAPT WOULD KEEP THE FO MORE IN THE LOOP WITH THE FUEL USAGE. MAJORITY OF CAPTS DO NOT. THEY NEVER TELL YOU WHEN FUEL PUMPS ARE TURNED 'ON' OR 'OFF,' OR WHEN THEY 'OPEN' OR 'CLOSE' THE FUEL XFEED. INSTEAD, I USUALLY JUST GET 'NOTIFIED' BY VISUALLY SEEING IT ALREADY DONE IN COCKPIT SCAN. IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT THE CAPT KEPT THE FO IN HIS LOOP. PLUS OTHER FACTORS: I FLY THE -300'S AND -200'S MUCH MORE THAN THE -700. SO, I AM USED TO SEEING THE FUEL BURN DOWN TO ZERO IN THE CTR TANK. FOR ME, THE -700 IS MUCH MORE RARE. HARDER TO REMEMBER TO DO THINGS LIKE THE CTR TANK BURN TO 1000 LBS, WHEN YOUR MINDSET IS USED TO A TYPICAL -300 OR -200, AND NOT THE RARE -700.

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.