Fuel shut off closed.

Attributes
ACN	94514
Time
Date	198809
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 6250
ASRS Report	94514
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7800 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	94515
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While cruising at FL350, approximately 150 mi southeast of den, the #3 engine on an large transport lost power. Unable to maintain level flight. An emergency descent was requested and obtained from ZKC to FL310. The appropriate checklist was run. While running the checklist, the #3 fuel shutoff switch was observed to be in the off position. Upon receiving clearance, a descent was continued to FL260 where an in-flight start of the #3 engine was completed following the appropriate checklist. The flight continued on to den and landed west/O further incident. Supplemental information from acn 94676: I inadvertently shut the #3 engine fuel valve switch with my pen by inserting my pen between the fuel valve switch and the guard with enough pressure to close the switch. Soon after the engine flamed out due to fuel starvation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FUEL SHUT OFF CLOSED.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT FL350, APPROX 150 MI SE OF DEN, THE #3 ENG ON AN LGT LOST PWR. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT. AN EMER DSCNT WAS REQUESTED AND OBTAINED FROM ZKC TO FL310. THE APPROPRIATE CHKLIST WAS RUN. WHILE RUNNING THE CHKLIST, THE #3 FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH WAS OBSERVED TO BE IN THE OFF POS. UPON RECEIVING CLRNC, A DSCNT WAS CONTINUED TO FL260 WHERE AN INFLT START OF THE #3 ENG WAS COMPLETED FOLLOWING THE APPROPRIATE CHKLIST. THE FLT CONTINUED ON TO DEN AND LANDED W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 94676: I INADVERTENTLY SHUT THE #3 ENG FUEL VALVE SWITCH WITH MY PEN BY INSERTING MY PEN BTWN THE FUEL VALVE SWITCH AND THE GUARD WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE TO CLOSE THE SWITCH. SOON AFTER THE ENG FLAMED OUT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

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.