Air carrier large transport unscheduled landing due to fuel crossfeed problem. PIC dumped fuel witho...

Attributes
ACN	92878
Time
Date	198808
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ape
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tracon : cmh
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	approach : straight in arrival other enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	92878
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	92976
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Xfeeding could not be accomplished from tank #2 to engines #1 and #3. Second officer panel set up properly and all indications of valves and switches appeared normal--especially the #2 xfeed valve and associated blue valve in transit light which illuminated each time the switch was moved. We were compelled to dump from #2 to even the load and made an unscheduled stop at cmh, rather than continue on to mci (from lga). No emergency was declared. We were advised by company tech services that the in transit light is connected to the activator rather than the valve. It was found the valve itself was stuck but we nonetheless got a light each time the switch was moved. We believe that this situation is deceptive, dangerous and potentially lethal and should be corrected at once. Supplemental information from acn 92867: during this incident fuel was dumped while airborne. Flight crew failed to notify ATC that fuel was being dumped. Captain elected not to declare an emergency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT UNSCHEDULED LNDG DUE TO FUEL CROSSFEED PROBLEM. PIC DUMPED FUEL WITHOUT NOTIFYING ATC.

Narrative: XFEEDING COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED FROM TANK #2 TO ENGS #1 AND #3. S/O PANEL SET UP PROPERLY AND ALL INDICATIONS OF VALVES AND SWITCHES APPEARED NORMAL--ESPECIALLY THE #2 XFEED VALVE AND ASSOCIATED BLUE VALVE IN TRANSIT LIGHT WHICH ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE SWITCH WAS MOVED. WE WERE COMPELLED TO DUMP FROM #2 TO EVEN THE LOAD AND MADE AN UNSCHEDULED STOP AT CMH, RATHER THAN CONTINUE ON TO MCI (FROM LGA). NO EMER WAS DECLARED. WE WERE ADVISED BY COMPANY TECH SVCS THAT THE IN TRANSIT LIGHT IS CONNECTED TO THE ACTIVATOR RATHER THAN THE VALVE. IT WAS FOUND THE VALVE ITSELF WAS STUCK BUT WE NONETHELESS GOT A LIGHT EACH TIME THE SWITCH WAS MOVED. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS SITUATION IS DECEPTIVE, DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT ONCE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 92867: DURING THIS INCIDENT FUEL WAS DUMPED WHILE AIRBORNE. FLT CREW FAILED TO NOTIFY ATC THAT FUEL WAS BEING DUMPED. CAPT ELECTED NOT TO DECLARE AN EMER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

Air carrier large transport unscheduled landing due to fuel crossfeed problem. PIC dumped fuel without notifying ATC.