Air carrier medium large transport made a takeoff with the fuel panel set incorrectly.

Attributes
ACN	186403
Time
Date	199108
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : orf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : orf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3500
ASRS Report	186403
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Taxiing out, we noticed the right fuel tank had 8000 pounds more than the left. The captain decided to open the fuel xfeed valve and turn off the left fuel pumps. He said 'don't forget to check that closed before takeoff.' in cruise, about 20 mins from norfolk, I noticed we were still xfeeding and there was 1700 pounds more in the left tank than in the right. After yelling at me and telling me it was my fault, the captain stopped xfeed operation and left the imbalance for the remaining 20 mins. We landed with the 1700 imbalance at norfolk airport. Lesson I learned: either don't allow the captain to use a non-standard procedure or write down somewhere to remind yourself to cease or correct the non-standard procedure before takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG MADE A TKOF WITH THE FUEL PANEL SET INCORRECTLY.

Narrative: TAXIING OUT, WE NOTICED THE R FUEL TANK HAD 8000 POUNDS MORE THAN THE L. THE CAPT DECIDED TO OPEN THE FUEL XFEED VALVE AND TURN OFF THE L FUEL PUMPS. HE SAID 'DON'T FORGET TO CHK THAT CLOSED BEFORE TKOF.' IN CRUISE, ABOUT 20 MINS FROM NORFOLK, I NOTICED WE WERE STILL XFEEDING AND THERE WAS 1700 POUNDS MORE IN THE L TANK THAN IN THE R. AFTER YELLING AT ME AND TELLING ME IT WAS MY FAULT, THE CAPT STOPPED XFEED OP AND LEFT THE IMBALANCE FOR THE REMAINING 20 MINS. WE LANDED WITH THE 1700 IMBALANCE AT NORFOLK ARPT. LESSON I LEARNED: EITHER DON'T ALLOW THE CAPT TO USE A NON-STANDARD PROC OR WRITE DOWN SOMEWHERE TO REMIND YOURSELF TO CEASE OR CORRECT THE NON-STANDARD PROC BEFORE TKOF.

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.