Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
At FL410 and 1:30 hour into flight crew attempted to balance wing fuel. After fuel was balanced and switches returned to normal position; fuel continued to transfer out of left tank into right tank. Emergency/Abnormal checklist showed two procedures (A & B). Crew selected and completed procedure B of FUEL QUANTITY ASYMMETRY abnormal checklist which was for no fuel leak evident. Fuel continued to reduce on the low side. Crew also noticed that fuel did not increase at a like amount on the high side. X-BP amber warning light remained illuminated contrary to checklist. Crew then suspected both a transfer and a fuel leak problem and completed Emergency/Abnormal Checklist Procedure A which was for fuel leak and called for associated side engine shut down. Left engine was shut down and fuel in left tank stabilized at 2;000 pounds. Emergency was declared and divert to nearest suitable airport was accomplished. Single engine landing accomplished without incident. Initial maintenance inspection found bad fuel transfer valve actuator and multiple fuel leaks in left wing.
A DA-2000 fuel imbalance could not be equalized with normal or emergency procedures so an emergency was declared; the associated engine shut down and the flight diverted where a failed fuel transfer valve along with fuel leaks were discovered.