Narrative:

During top of climb; we noted that the center tank was not feeding properly. Approximately 7900 pounds in main tank. Ran the abnormal procedure checklist and established a positive flow from the center tank; however; xfer rates seemed slow. Fuel level was continuing to drop in the right main tank. Considered the possibility of a fuel leak; but our flight log showed our total fuel to be within 200 pounds of plan. With a 1000 pound imbal between left and right main tanks; we xfed the tanks to even them out. With this accomplished; we configured back with just the center boost pumps on and again observed a positive xfer but at a slower rate. I contacted the dispatcher on comrdo and informed him of what was happening and stated that we might have to land short of destination. WX was cavu all the way to the coast and dispatcher suggested elp; tus; phx and psp as possibilities. At this time our fuel burn became more normal and we overflew elp. Landed at san with all center tank fuel depleted and main tanks in balance. Aircraft refueler informed first officer xxxxxx that upon opening the refueling panel he observed that the left; center; and right automatic-fill refueling switches were open and unguarded. I located the mechanic who had met the aircraft and we were able to close the refueling panel with the switches open and unguarded. Before leaving the aircraft; an information to maintenance entry was made to alert the following crews as to the possibility of this happening again. It is my opinion that some refuelers are not closing the switches individually but are relying on the panel guard to accomplish this. Over time; the refueling switch mounting becomes deformed; permitting the panel to be closed with the switches in the incorrect position.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CREW EXPERIENCED FUEL DISTRIBUTION PROBS INFLT BECAUSE THE UNDER WING FUELING PANEL VALVE SWITCHES WERE NOT CLOSED.

Narrative: DURING TOP OF CLB; WE NOTED THAT THE CTR TANK WAS NOT FEEDING PROPERLY. APPROX 7900 LBS IN MAIN TANK. RAN THE ABNORMAL PROC CHKLIST AND ESTABLISHED A POSITIVE FLOW FROM THE CTR TANK; HOWEVER; XFER RATES SEEMED SLOW. FUEL LEVEL WAS CONTINUING TO DROP IN THE R MAIN TANK. CONSIDERED THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUEL LEAK; BUT OUR FLT LOG SHOWED OUR TOTAL FUEL TO BE WITHIN 200 LBS OF PLAN. WITH A 1000 LB IMBAL BTWN L AND R MAIN TANKS; WE XFED THE TANKS TO EVEN THEM OUT. WITH THIS ACCOMPLISHED; WE CONFIGURED BACK WITH JUST THE CTR BOOST PUMPS ON AND AGAIN OBSERVED A POSITIVE XFER BUT AT A SLOWER RATE. I CONTACTED THE DISPATCHER ON COMRDO AND INFORMED HIM OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND STATED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO LAND SHORT OF DEST. WX WAS CAVU ALL THE WAY TO THE COAST AND DISPATCHER SUGGESTED ELP; TUS; PHX AND PSP AS POSSIBILITIES. AT THIS TIME OUR FUEL BURN BECAME MORE NORMAL AND WE OVERFLEW ELP. LANDED AT SAN WITH ALL CTR TANK FUEL DEPLETED AND MAIN TANKS IN BAL. ACFT REFUELER INFORMED FO XXXXXX THAT UPON OPENING THE REFUELING PANEL HE OBSERVED THAT THE L; CTR; AND R AUTO-FILL REFUELING SWITCHES WERE OPEN AND UNGUARDED. I LOCATED THE MECH WHO HAD MET THE ACFT AND WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE THE REFUELING PANEL WITH THE SWITCHES OPEN AND UNGUARDED. BEFORE LEAVING THE ACFT; AN INFO TO MAINT ENTRY WAS MADE TO ALERT THE FOLLOWING CREWS AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. IT IS MY OPINION THAT SOME REFUELERS ARE NOT CLOSING THE SWITCHES INDIVIDUALLY BUT ARE RELYING ON THE PANEL GUARD TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. OVER TIME; THE REFUELING SWITCH MOUNTING BECOMES DEFORMED; PERMITTING THE PANEL TO BE CLOSED WITH THE SWITCHES IN THE INCORRECT POS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.