Air carrier large transport flight crew experiences fuel imbalance on approach to cyul.

Attributes
ACN	176365
Time
Date	199104
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cyul
State Reference	PQ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cyul
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3100
ASRS Report	176365
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence other 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:

During maneuvering to final, flaps 2, 180 KIAS I noticed I needed a lot (2 units) of rudder trim. My first reaction was to check the fuel and sure enough, we had a 2000 pound imballance between #1 and #3 tank. I directed the engineer to start a xfeed operation and assessed my options. Land out of balance or hold until we were back in balance. Since the airplane was fully ctlable and the winds were not a factor, I elected to land with an imbalance condition. I reasoned that flying around in the clouds for another 10 mins or so (6 mins probably would have been enough, but 10 mins more likely for ATC procedures) would have been less safe than landing. The obvious fix, keep a closer eye on the F/east.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FLC EXPERIENCES FUEL IMBALANCE ON APCH TO CYUL.

Narrative: DURING MANEUVERING TO FINAL, FLAPS 2, 180 KIAS I NOTICED I NEEDED A LOT (2 UNITS) OF RUDDER TRIM. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO CHK THE FUEL AND SURE ENOUGH, WE HAD A 2000 LB IMBALLANCE BTWN #1 AND #3 TANK. I DIRECTED THE ENGINEER TO START A XFEED OPERATION AND ASSESSED MY OPTIONS. LAND OUT OF BALANCE OR HOLD UNTIL WE WERE BACK IN BALANCE. SINCE THE AIRPLANE WAS FULLY CTLABLE AND THE WINDS WERE NOT A FACTOR, I ELECTED TO LAND WITH AN IMBALANCE CONDITION. I REASONED THAT FLYING AROUND IN THE CLOUDS FOR ANOTHER 10 MINS OR SO (6 MINS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH, BUT 10 MINS MORE LIKELY FOR ATC PROCS) WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SAFE THAN LNDG. THE OBVIOUS FIX, KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON THE F/E.

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.