Narrative:

With 2;000 pounds of fuel remaining in the center tank; I turned off a center pump and opened the crossfeed valve in accordance with ads 2002-19-52 and 2002-24-51. I noticed that the valve open light illuminated brightly; and then went out (instead of illuminating dimly). I tested the lights and found that they didn't work. I couldn't be sure if the valve was opened or closed. We changed the bulbs which confirmed that they were not the problem. We noticed the crossfeed valve circuit breaker was tripped and referenced the QRH. We allowed the center tank to drain and; soon thereafter; determined that the valve was likely stuck open due to a rapidly increasing fuel imbalance. I determined that for safety of flight; and to preclude a diversion with a definite fuel imbalance; I would attempt to close the valve by resetting the circuit breaker again. I placed the crossfeed valve switch in the open position because that is the position we believed the valve to be. As soon as I reset the circuit breaker; it tripped again but I was able to confirm that the valve was open by noticing a dim valve open light. I waited a few minutes and discussed our plan of action with the first officer. I determined it best to put the valve in the closed position and have the first officer monitor the valve open light while I reset the circuit breaker a third time to attempt to close the valve. After I reset the circuit breaker; we both saw a positive indication that the crossfeed valve did close (dim to bright to off) and the circuit breaker did not trip again. We continued to monitor the fuel quantities closely and they maintained approximately a 500 pounds imbalance. We were able to continue to our destination. I weighed all the options and used my captain's authority when I elected to reset the circuit breaker three times in an attempt to close the crossfeed valve. I was well aware of the limitation in the fom which states; 'a tripped circuit breaker may only be reset once.' again; I felt a divert and landing with an increasing fuel imbalance was not prudent without attempting to close the valve. We notified dispatch and maintenance control to inform them of our malfunction and they agreed we were okay to continue to our destination where repairs would be made. Maintenance confirmed a defective valve control when the circuit breaker tripped immediately after the valve was cycled.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reports crossfeed valve failure in the open position and an increasing fuel imbalance. The crossfeed valve circuit breaker is found to be tripped and after consideration; is reset and immediately trips again. The switch is placed in the closed position and the circuit breaker is reset a third time; closing the valve without tripping the circuit breaker.

Narrative: With 2;000 LBS of fuel remaining in the center tank; I turned off a center pump and opened the crossfeed valve in accordance with ADs 2002-19-52 and 2002-24-51. I noticed that the Valve Open light illuminated brightly; and then went out (instead of illuminating dimly). I tested the lights and found that they didn't work. I couldn't be sure if the valve was opened or closed. We changed the bulbs which confirmed that they were not the problem. We noticed the crossfeed valve circuit breaker was tripped and referenced the QRH. We allowed the center tank to drain and; soon thereafter; determined that the valve was likely stuck open due to a rapidly increasing fuel imbalance. I determined that for safety of flight; and to preclude a diversion with a definite fuel imbalance; I would attempt to close the valve by resetting the circuit breaker again. I placed the crossfeed valve switch in the open position because that is the position we believed the valve to be. As soon as I reset the circuit breaker; it tripped again but I was able to confirm that the valve was open by noticing a dim Valve Open light. I waited a few minutes and discussed our plan of action with the First Officer. I determined it best to put the valve in the closed position and have the First Officer monitor the Valve Open light while I reset the circuit breaker a third time to attempt to close the valve. After I reset the circuit breaker; we both saw a positive indication that the crossfeed valve did close (Dim to Bright to Off) and the circuit breaker did not trip again. We continued to monitor the fuel quantities closely and they maintained approximately a 500 LBS imbalance. We were able to continue to our destination. I weighed all the options and used my Captain's Authority when I elected to reset the circuit breaker three times in an attempt to close the crossfeed valve. I was well aware of the limitation in the FOM which states; 'A tripped circuit breaker may only be reset once.' Again; I felt a divert and landing with an increasing fuel imbalance was not prudent without attempting to close the valve. We notified Dispatch and Maintenance Control to inform them of our malfunction and they agreed we were okay to continue to our destination where repairs would be made. Maintenance confirmed a defective valve control when the circuit breaker tripped immediately after the valve was cycled.

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.