Dispatched with one main fuel gauge deferred inoperative; a B737-700 flight crew noted that fuel was...

Attributes
ACN	922019
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Crossfeed
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 172 Flight Crew Type 13000
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 153 Flight Crew Type 3000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Weight And Balance Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown

Narrative:

We departed with the number two flight deck fuel quantity indicator deferred. We completed all the MEL provisions including dripping the fuel tank and proper crossfeed valve operation.during climbout; I commented on the number two fuel indication going down (the side with the bad gauge). Shortly after level off at FL340 a fuel audit indicated a further indicated fuel imbalance. After summing the fuel indicated with fuel burned and subtracting this from the departure fuel; we determined that the indicated fuel imbalance was correct (5;700 pounds in number one and 3;800 pounds in number two). The crossfeed valve indicated closed. Further investigation revealed a popped crossfeed valve circuit breaker. We talked with dispatch; complied with the crossfeed valve inoperable QRH checklist; declared an emergency and diverted to a nearby airport.the crossfeed valve indicated closed in flight; but was found to be in the open position by maintenance. My mistake was confusion about whether or not the crossfeed valve circuit breaker could be reset with the limitation in the fom.one additional item is that if a crew declares an emergency; I think they should be pulled from flying at least the rest of that day period. It is very distracting.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Dispatched with one main fuel gauge deferred inoperative; a B737-700 flight crew noted that fuel was only being consumed from the tank with the inoperative gauge. An emergency was declared and the flight diverted.

Narrative: We departed with the number two flight deck fuel quantity indicator deferred. We completed all the MEL provisions including dripping the fuel tank and proper crossfeed valve operation.During climbout; I commented on the number two fuel indication going down (the side with the bad gauge). Shortly after level off at FL340 a fuel audit indicated a further indicated fuel imbalance. After summing the fuel indicated with fuel burned and subtracting this from the departure fuel; we determined that the indicated fuel imbalance was correct (5;700 LBS in number one and 3;800 LBS in number two). The crossfeed valve indicated closed. Further investigation revealed a popped crossfeed valve circuit breaker. We talked with Dispatch; complied with the Crossfeed Valve Inoperable QRH Checklist; declared an emergency and diverted to a nearby airport.The crossfeed valve indicated closed in flight; but was found to be in the open position by Maintenance. My mistake was confusion about whether or not the crossfeed valve circuit breaker could be reset with the limitation in the FOM.One additional item is that if a Crew declares an emergency; I think they should be pulled from flying at least the rest of that day period. It is very distracting.

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.