FUEL IMBALANCE (YELLOW) threshold?

• A. Fuel imbalance greater than 800 LBS detected by fuel computer
• B. Fuel imbalance greater than 600 LBS
• C. Fuel imbalance greater than 1000 LBS
• D. Fuel imbalance greater than 1200 LBS

Answer: (D)

The situation tests how fuel imbalance is monitored and what the color warnings mean for action. On the CRJ-550, a yellow FUEL IMBALANCE alert signals that the difference between the left and right wing fuel quantities has crossed 1200 pounds. This is a caution level, indicating the imbalance is significant enough to affect lateral stability and CG margins but not yet at a critical (red) level. When you see yellow, you should start addressing the imbalance by transferring fuel between wings via crossfeed or planning fuel burn to bring the distribution back toward balance, all while staying within the aircraft’s CG and performance limits. The idea is to correct before a higher, red warning would require more urgent or restricted actions, keeping handled imbalance within safe operational boundaries.