Narrative:

During taxi-out for takeoff on runway 11R at msp, flight engineer stated the fuel gauges were acting strangely. At this time, we were taxiing single engine (#1 running) using fuel from 2 and 3 tanks to keep balance fuel while taxiing. When we got to the end of the runway, the fuel was showing #1 10500, #2 4500, #3 4500 approximately. Flight engineer was unable to test fuel system so suspected fueler had not fully closed refuel power switch in refueling panel. Maintenance called out and they found refuel switch not shut off, but also found defuel valve lever -- inboard right wing -- in full out position. Fuel had been transferred to tow aircraft off the gate and back and when maintenance had redistributed fuel, they had failed to permanently repos defuel switch and defuel lever. Flight engineer missed both on preflight and did not perform proper fuel system operation during preflight/taxi checks.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ACR LGT ACFT NOTICED A FUEL IMBAL DURING TAXI-OUT RESULTING IN RETURN TO THE GATE FOR MAINT REVIEW.

Narrative: DURING TAXI-OUT FOR TKOF ON RWY 11R AT MSP, FE STATED THE FUEL GAUGES WERE ACTING STRANGELY. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE TAXIING SINGLE ENG (#1 RUNNING) USING FUEL FROM 2 AND 3 TANKS TO KEEP BAL FUEL WHILE TAXIING. WHEN WE GOT TO THE END OF THE RWY, THE FUEL WAS SHOWING #1 10500, #2 4500, #3 4500 APPROX. FE WAS UNABLE TO TEST FUEL SYS SO SUSPECTED FUELER HAD NOT FULLY CLOSED REFUEL PWR SWITCH IN REFUELING PANEL. MAINT CALLED OUT AND THEY FOUND REFUEL SWITCH NOT SHUT OFF, BUT ALSO FOUND DEFUEL VALVE LEVER -- INBOARD R WING -- IN FULL OUT POS. FUEL HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO TOW ACFT OFF THE GATE AND BACK AND WHEN MAINT HAD REDISTRIBUTED FUEL, THEY HAD FAILED TO PERMANENTLY REPOS DEFUEL SWITCH AND DEFUEL LEVER. FE MISSED BOTH ON PREFLT AND DID NOT PERFORM PROPER FUEL SYS OP DURING PREFLT/TAXI CHKS.

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.