A CL65 flight crew experienced 'fuel imbalance' warning message soon after takeoff and again later i...

Narrative:

After takeoff at approx 400 ft AGL we made a left turn to 310 degrees. During the turn master caution 'fuel imbalance' came on. Fuel imbalance was 900 pounds additional fuel in the left tank. After wings went level message went out and right automatic cross flow pump came on. Then at 9;000 ft we were given a left turn to the southwest and same fuel imbalance message came on; this time showing 1000 pounds heavy on the left side. Captain asked for the QRH for fuel imbalance and after the checklist was complete; captain decided to divert and asked me to contact the company. Initially we had discussed airport 1 for diversion; the company wanted airport 2. We were approx in the middle of the two airports and we elected to go to airport 2. An emergency was declared by the captain and we were limited to very shallow bank turns to the left and normal turns to the right. We over flew airport 2 heading east and made a right downwind entry for the runway. By that time the fuel imbalance was just about fixed by cross flow pump and made a normal landing; then proceeded to taxi under our own power to the gate. 3.5 hours later we had the passengers on a different airplane finishing our flight to our original destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CL65 flight crew experienced 'Fuel Imbalance' warning message soon after takeoff and again later in the climb. They ran the procedure and coordinated with company; electing to divert to the nearest suitable airport.

Narrative: After takeoff at approx 400 FT AGL we made a left turn to 310 degrees. During the turn master caution 'Fuel Imbalance' came on. Fuel imbalance was 900 LBS additional fuel in the left tank. After wings went level message went out and R AUTO Cross Flow pump came on. Then at 9;000 FT we were given a left turn to the southwest and same FUEL imbalance message came on; this time showing 1000 LBS heavy on the left side. Captain asked for the QRH for Fuel Imbalance and after the checklist was complete; Captain decided to divert and asked me to contact the company. Initially we had discussed Airport 1 for diversion; the company wanted Airport 2. We were approx in the middle of the two airports and we elected to go to Airport 2. An emergency was declared by the Captain and we were limited to very shallow bank turns to the left and normal turns to the right. We over flew Airport 2 heading east and made a right downwind entry for the runway. By that time the fuel imbalance was just about fixed by cross flow pump and made a normal landing; then proceeded to taxi under our own power to the gate. 3.5 hours later we had the passengers on a different airplane finishing our flight to our original destination.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	840843
Time
Date	200906
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	DC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel System
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 220 Flight Crew Total 6000 Flight Crew Type 2000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

A CL65 flight crew experienced 'fuel imbalance' warning message soon after takeoff and again later in the climb. They ran the procedure and coordinated with company; electing to divert to the nearest suitable airport.