Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Approaching assigned altitude of FL270; both FUEL XFR LEVEL LO annunciators began to cycle erratically. Verified switches were in correct position (AUTO); and fuselage tank was almost empty. At this point both lights stayed on. Since operating these pumps without fuel present creates a rapid; high-heat situation; we did a control transfer; declared an emergency and diverted. We executed the appropriate abnormal checklist; which successfully secured the transfer pumps via pulled CB's; and landed uneventfully. Appropriate transfer pump checklist item was successfully completed during preflight. Fuel transfer pumps failed to shut off after fuselage tank empty.
BE400 Captain reports failure of fuel pumps in the fuselage to shut off when the tank is empty. The abnormal checklist is consulted and the pumps are secured via pulled circuit breakers. The flight diverts to a suitable airport.