An MD88 in cruise FL310 discovers fuel xfeed valve open and aircraft has a 5000 pound fuel imbal.

Attributes
ACN	496789
Time
Date	200012
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mol.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j48.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	496789
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel quantity indicator other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After a 4 hour delay in bdl for runway conditions and xwinds, we departed for atl. We had run the APU during the ground delay, so there was an 800-1000 pound split between the left and right main fuel tanks (this is within limits). The first officer was the PF. Upon reaching cruise altitude, the first officer said he was opening the fuel xfeed to correct the imbal. Additionally, he had failed to load a company reporting point to the 'fix' page in the FMS. This serves well as a visual reminder to check fuel during the flight. I failed to catch this error when I checked the FMS loading during preflight. About 45 mins from touchdown, I noticed the yoke was displaced some amount to the right. We both began troubleshooting and discovered a 5000 pound lateral fuel imbal. We had forgotten to close the xfeed valve. We reversed the imbal but, due to our proximity, we landed with a 4000 pound imbal. I normally create some sort of cockpit 'reminder' when the xfeed valve is open.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 IN CRUISE FL310 DISCOVERS FUEL XFEED VALVE OPEN AND ACFT HAS A 5000 LB FUEL IMBAL.

Narrative: AFTER A 4 HR DELAY IN BDL FOR RWY CONDITIONS AND XWINDS, WE DEPARTED FOR ATL. WE HAD RUN THE APU DURING THE GND DELAY, SO THERE WAS AN 800-1000 LB SPLIT BTWN THE L AND R MAIN FUEL TANKS (THIS IS WITHIN LIMITS). THE FO WAS THE PF. UPON REACHING CRUISE ALT, THE FO SAID HE WAS OPENING THE FUEL XFEED TO CORRECT THE IMBAL. ADDITIONALLY, HE HAD FAILED TO LOAD A COMPANY RPTING POINT TO THE 'FIX' PAGE IN THE FMS. THIS SERVES WELL AS A VISUAL REMINDER TO CHK FUEL DURING THE FLT. I FAILED TO CATCH THIS ERROR WHEN I CHKED THE FMS LOADING DURING PREFLT. ABOUT 45 MINS FROM TOUCHDOWN, I NOTICED THE YOKE WAS DISPLACED SOME AMOUNT TO THE R. WE BOTH BEGAN TROUBLESHOOTING AND DISCOVERED A 5000 LB LATERAL FUEL IMBAL. WE HAD FORGOTTEN TO CLOSE THE XFEED VALVE. WE REVERSED THE IMBAL BUT, DUE TO OUR PROX, WE LANDED WITH A 4000 LB IMBAL. I NORMALLY CREATE SOME SORT OF COCKPIT 'REMINDER' WHEN THE XFEED VALVE IS OPEN.

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.