MD-11F flight crew reported a loss of fuel pressure during cruise flight which resulted in an engine malfunction. The crew followed QRH procedures; restarted the engine; and continued the flight to destination.
Synopsis
MD-11F flight crew reported a loss of fuel pressure during cruise flight which resulted in an engine malfunction. The crew followed QRH procedures; restarted the engine; and continued the flight to destination.
Narrative
Approximately two hours into flight and while at flight level 390 my First Officer (FO) and I experienced an engine #2 failure. We were Dispatched with the fuel system in manual mode per an MEL. The fuel system operated normally; per the MEL; up until we received the TANK 2 PUMPS OFF level 1 alert. While initiating the QRH procedure for the level 1 alert we received an ENG 2 RPM LO Level 2 alert. We confirmed the engine out and performed the ENG 2 RPM LO procedure. While performing this checklist we elected that a restart was not desired since there wasnt any fuel being supplied to the engine. The end of the ENG 2 RMP LO checklist referred us to the Non-alert ENGINE SHUTDOWN INFLIGHT checklist. We performed this checklist and continued back to the Level 1 TANK 2 PUMPS OFF checklist. The last step of this checklist refers to manual mode which states; Ensure that there is an alternate source of fuel pressure to the engine. If no fuel pressure is available to the engine; Refer to the Level 2 TANK _ PUMPS LO procedure. That was our next step. We performed the Level 2 TANK 2 PUMPS LO procedure. During this procedure we were able to supply fuel to engine 2 from tank 2 via the TANK TRANS switch and the associated XFEED switch. The last step of the Level 2 TANK 2 PUMPS LO procedure had us open three circuit breakers for the failed pumps in tank 2.At this point all the checklists had been completed for the engine failure and associated alerts. We suspected the engine shutdown was due to a lack off of fuel since the Tank 2 pumps turned off and fuel was not being supplied to the #2 engine. No damage was noted to the engine and the engine had an alternate source of fuel; so we elected the perform the Non-alert ENGINE RETART INFLIGHT. The engine #2 N2 rpm was 15.9%; which meant a starter assist was not required. The engine started normally once the fuel switch was moved to the ON position. We idled the engine for approximately 2 minutes before slowly advancing the #2 throttle. The engine operated normally for the remainder of flight.[Priority handling was requested] while with ZZZ Center and later cancelled with ZZZ1 Center. A call was made to Dispatch and Maintenance after the engine had been restarted and the checklists were complete.This seems like a one-off event. Mechanical items stop working from time to time. I believe the only way to have prevented this situation would be to only use the fuel controller when in Auto Mode. That's most likely not realistic. It would be nice to find out what actually caused the tank 2 pumps to shut off.
Second reporter narrative
We were at flight level 370 for about an hour and a half. The airplane was dispatched with an MEL; fuel system manual. We climbed to FL390 due to turbulence at FL370. About 15 minutes after leveling at FL390 we received a TANK 2 PUMPS OFF warning; followed shortly after by an ENG 2 RPM LOW alert. The fuel system was operating normally up until this point. I was the flying pilot. We confirmed engine out and with ATC approval; started to descend to FL250. The Captain immediately pulled out the QRH and proceeded to run through the appropriate checklists. Approaching FL330; all checklists were completed; and we decided to restart the engine since there was no damage and it was confirmed that the flameout was due to tank two pumps; not supplying fuel to engine number two. As per the checklist; we found an alternate source of pressure to the engine by using TANK TRANS pump and the associated XFEED. The engine was restarted by using the ENGINE RESTART INFLIGHT checklist; and it started normally. It idled normally for two minutes; we saw everything was operating normally and maintained FL330. The Captain called Dispatch and Maintenance to confirm what we did and agreed on proceeding to ZZZ. [Priority handling was requested]. The rest of the flight and landing into ZZZ was uneventful.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.