Air carrier large transport in-flight engine failure due to fuel starvation.

Attributes
ACN	154954
Time
Date	199008
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vps
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j58
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	154954
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 4300
ASRS Report	154407
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Engine #1 started surging after level of at FL350. Approximately 5 mins later #3 engine failed. Apparent cause was fuel starvation. As of this date no apparent mechanical problem has been discovered. Possible considerations: icing, improper fuel, no positive boost pump pressure, fuel contamination. Fuel contamination was suspected and appropriate abnormal and emergency procedures were accomplished with a landing at the nearest suitable airport accomplished. 1 possible cause (3) due to daylight operation and the consideration that the F/east may have had the light caps on the boost pump low pressure lights in the dim position, the fact that the pumps may not have been operating was not apparent to the crew. It was determined that the light caps installed were a variety that allowed only minimal amounts of bulb light to be exposed. These may have been the improper caps for this application. Fuel icing may have also been a cause if the proper anti-ice additives had not been added to the fuel. Fuel contamination is suspect. Awaiting results of inspection of all fuel control and pump filter screens.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT INFLT ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Narrative: ENG #1 STARTED SURGING AFTER LEVEL OF AT FL350. APPROX 5 MINS LATER #3 ENG FAILED. APPARENT CAUSE WAS FUEL STARVATION. AS OF THIS DATE NO APPARENT MECHANICAL PROB HAS BEEN DISCOVERED. POSSIBLE CONSIDERATIONS: ICING, IMPROPER FUEL, NO POSITIVE BOOST PUMP PRESSURE, FUEL CONTAMINATION. FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS SUSPECTED AND APPROPRIATE ABNORMAL AND EMER PROCS WERE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A LNDG AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT ACCOMPLISHED. 1 POSSIBLE CAUSE (3) DUE TO DAYLIGHT OPERATION AND THE CONSIDERATION THAT THE F/E MAY HAVE HAD THE LIGHT CAPS ON THE BOOST PUMP LOW PRESSURE LIGHTS IN THE DIM POS, THE FACT THAT THE PUMPS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN OPERATING WAS NOT APPARENT TO THE CREW. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LIGHT CAPS INSTALLED WERE A VARIETY THAT ALLOWED ONLY MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF BULB LIGHT TO BE EXPOSED. THESE MAY HAVE BEEN THE IMPROPER CAPS FOR THIS APPLICATION. FUEL ICING MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN A CAUSE IF THE PROPER ANTI-ICE ADDITIVES HAD NOT BEEN ADDED TO THE FUEL. FUEL CONTAMINATION IS SUSPECT. AWAITING RESULTS OF INSPECTION OF ALL FUEL CTL AND PUMP FILTER SCREENS.

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