Date: 201503
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: LNK.Airport, NE
Aircraft: Cessna Citation Sovereign (C680)
Operator: Fractional
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Fuel Distribution System
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Fractional
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Aircraft
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: After preflighting we were conducting engine start; prior to departure.  Since there was a fuel imbalance; we were cross-feeding fuel from the left side to the right side.  (This means the left boost pump was on throughout the engine start sequence.)  The right engine was started first.  After starting the right engine; we got Amber CAS messages showing low fuel pressure (R) and Fuel Boost pump ON (R).  Neither of these Amber messages cleared.  We called maintenance who said to write-up the aircraft.  We returned the next day; after maintenance had worked the problem and discovered they had changed nothing and were told that this was normal and that we were using an unapproved procedure (cross-feeding while starting engines).  We were given a lot of push-back from maintenance that this was normal and we should fly the airplane.  Both pilots have been flying the CE680 for more than 8 years and have never seen this situation occur and have never heard that this is an unapproved procedure.  With both boost pumps on and the crossfeed valve open; there should have been more than enough fuel pressure available for the right engine.With a combined 16 years of experience flying the CE680; neither of us felt these CAS indications were normal.  Discussions between company Maintenance and Cessna led to the conclusion that this is a normal indication.  My concern is that one of several things need to be corrected.  First; perhaps Cessna isn't familiar enough with their own aircraft to realize this is an incorrect indication.  Second; if this is an unapproved procedure; none of the training provided Flight Safety has provided this information to the flight crews.  Third and foremost; the attitude shown by Cessna seemed to focus on 'it's normal; fly the airplane' rather than further investigating the problem.  Both company maintenance and FBO maintenance didn't seem to be knowledgeable concerning this situation. They were both deferring to guidance from Cessna.  If there continues to be 'push-back' from our maintenance resources; this could easily lead to a serious problem; down the road.




Synopsis: CE680 Captain reports starting engines with the left fuel boost pump on and the crossfeed open to alleviate a fuel imbalance. This results in an amber CAS messages showing low fuel pressure (R) and Fuel Boost pump ON (R) and the messages cannot be cleared. Maintenance determines that nothing is wrong and that the crew was using an inappropriate procedure.