An MD80 pilot reports discovering a fuel imbalance during descent for approach at 10000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	720578
Time
Date	200612
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	720578
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While initiating a flight report over or near abc (10K/250 KTS); I noticed a significant fuel imbalance. The left main read 9000 pounds; center around 300 pounds; and right main read 5000 pounds. I quickly brought this to the captain's attention; soon followed by our use of the QRH to remedy the problem. Prior to this; I had checked fuel up to or near abc. I recorded the center tank fuel and did not notice any wing tank fuel xfer problem. It appeared we were rushed from leveloff; with 2 write-ups; (left fuel flow inoperative); 130 KTS of tailwind; numerous radio changes; 4TH leg of day and an early descent from ATC due to strong tailwinds. I could not surmise when the fuel began to feed improperly. Nevertheless; we had to deviate with ATC approach handle the problem; and subsequently had to go around due to strong winds (45 KTS) on base leg. Had plenty of fuel and eventually came back around to land. While I believe we are fully responsible; I was caught off guard by the rapid onset of this fuel imbalance; and how we failed to catch it at an earlier time in the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 PLT RPTS DISCOVERING A FUEL IMBALANCE DURING DSCNT FOR APCH AT 10000 FT.

Narrative: WHILE INITIATING A FLT RPT OVER OR NEAR ABC (10K/250 KTS); I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT FUEL IMBALANCE. THE L MAIN READ 9000 LBS; CTR AROUND 300 LBS; AND R MAIN READ 5000 LBS. I QUICKLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE CAPT'S ATTN; SOON FOLLOWED BY OUR USE OF THE QRH TO REMEDY THE PROB. PRIOR TO THIS; I HAD CHKED FUEL UP TO OR NEAR ABC. I RECORDED THE CTR TANK FUEL AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY WING TANK FUEL XFER PROB. IT APPEARED WE WERE RUSHED FROM LEVELOFF; WITH 2 WRITE-UPS; (L FUEL FLOW INOP); 130 KTS OF TAILWIND; NUMEROUS RADIO CHANGES; 4TH LEG OF DAY AND AN EARLY DSCNT FROM ATC DUE TO STRONG TAILWINDS. I COULD NOT SURMISE WHEN THE FUEL BEGAN TO FEED IMPROPERLY. NEVERTHELESS; WE HAD TO DEVIATE WITH ATC APCH HANDLE THE PROB; AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO GO AROUND DUE TO STRONG WINDS (45 KTS) ON BASE LEG. HAD PLENTY OF FUEL AND EVENTUALLY CAME BACK AROUND TO LAND. WHILE I BELIEVE WE ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE; I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THE RAPID ONSET OF THIS FUEL IMBALANCE; AND HOW WE FAILED TO CATCH IT AT AN EARLIER TIME IN THE FLT.

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.