What happened
While cruising at Flight Level 350, the flight experienced a simultaneous flameout of both engines. The crew declared an emergency to Salt Lake ARTC Center and was vectored toward Page, Arizona, for a possible emergency landing. At 12,200 feet, the captain restarted both engines by switching the center tank boost pumps on. The aircraft then climbed to 17,000 feet and diverted to Las Vegas, landing at 1604 without further incident.
The investigation
The flight had departed Minneapolis with the proper fuel load. However, the crew was distracted from the climb checklist after departure by a heading change and a knob coming off the digital flight guidance system while the captain was setting in a new heading. As a result, the item of 'fuel pumps-checked' was missed and the center tank pumps were never turned on. During the restart, the captain realized the omission and corrected it.
Findings
The flight had been on the main tanks which were exhausted causing the flameouts. The center wing tank contained about 13,500 pounds of fuel. The primary cause was the failure to activate the center tank pumps during the climb phase due to distraction from a malfunctioning control knob and a heading change.
Safety message
Pilots must remain vigilant regarding checklist completion, especially when distracted by in-flight anomalies or system malfunctions. Ensuring that all fuel pump configurations are verified during critical phases of flight is essential to prevent fuel exhaustion.