Air carrier first officer experiences compressor stalls at FL380 while the captain is cross feeding ...

Narrative:

During cruise [at] FL380 captain was cross feeding fuel for about 800 pounds imbalance when the left engine started to compressor stall. The captain turned on the fuel pumps and accomplished memory items; reducing the left engine slowly about a knob width and the engine smoothed out. Then accomplished the engine limit surge or stall checklist and advanced the throttle back to normal. Engine ran okay for 2 to 3 minutes when it stalled again and captain retarded the throttle again. We then were about 80 miles from ZZZ and diverted there and made a normal landing. Arff checked the engine from the outside and we taxied to the ramp. Possible issues not related to engine problems. Cross feed had been open on the ground with the right aft fuel pump on. Aircraft was being fueled so I left the fuel panel as it was. Captain arrived late on reserve call-out. Very chaotic getting caught up and running checklists. All normal until cross feeding fuel. I saw captain push cross feed button and turn off pumps but I did not verify the actual valve position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier First Officer experiences compressor stalls at FL380 while the Captain is cross feeding fuel. Turning on fuel pumps and reducing thrust results in smooth operation for several minutes; then stalls return. Flight diverts to nearest suitable airport.

Narrative: During cruise [at] FL380 Captain was cross feeding fuel for about 800 LBS imbalance when the left engine started to compressor stall. The Captain turned on the fuel pumps and accomplished memory items; reducing the left engine slowly about a knob width and the engine smoothed out. Then accomplished the engine limit surge or stall checklist and advanced the throttle back to normal. Engine ran okay for 2 to 3 minutes when it stalled again and Captain retarded the throttle again. We then were about 80 miles from ZZZ and diverted there and made a normal landing. ARFF checked the engine from the outside and we taxied to the ramp. Possible issues not related to engine problems. Cross feed had been open on the ground with the right aft fuel pump on. Aircraft was being fueled so I left the fuel panel as it was. Captain arrived late on reserve call-out. Very chaotic getting caught up and running checklists. All normal until cross feeding fuel. I saw Captain push cross feed button and turn off pumps but I did not verify the actual valve position.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	921214
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Turbine Engine
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Air carrier first officer experiences compressor stalls at FL380 while the captain is cross feeding fuel. Turning on fuel pumps and reducing thrust results in smooth operation for several minutes; then stalls return. Flight diverts to nearest suitable airport.