A310
Human-Machine Interface
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
Landed with fuel in outer tanks exceeding limits. Weight and balance fuel was LO 6.5 LI 4.6 C .5 trm 0 RI 4.5 RO 6.5. Total 22.7 checked and verified. After takeoff at 5;000 FT AGL ECAM alert for fuel. Fuel page and overhead showed LO 6.5 LI 5.8 CTR .5 RI 3.3 RO 3.8. 19.9 total. Referred to QRH for fuel imbalance and cross feed procedures. Note in QRH warned against feeding both engines from one outer fuel tank. Outer tank to tank limits were not to be fixed. Captain chose to balance wing fuel load and accept outer fuel load imbalance on landing since we could never correct the problem in flight. Landing fuel LO 6.5 LI 1.2 C .8 RI 1.5 RO 3.7 total 13.7. Maintenance informed of situation and they found refueling panel configured incorrectly. Transfer valve switch was left on. This was cause of imbalance. Return flight on same aircraft with no issues. Improper refueling panel configuration. Emphasis on attention to detail. Plane wasn't refueled during turn. Fuel was only transferred.
A310 First Officer experiences a fuel imbalance shortly after takeoff which cannot be corrected. Flight continues to destination where Maintenance finds the Transfer valve switch was left on at the previous station.