A B737-700's number one engine failed in flight at 32;000 ft; an emergency was declared and the flig...

Attributes
ACN	1000939
Time
Date	201203
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Turbine Engine
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 359
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 279 Flight Crew Type 4500
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Climbing out at approximately 32;000 ft; a very loud bang was heard from the #1 engine. The #1 engine instruments all displayed engine failure. We declared an emergency; asked for a descent and vectors back to the departure airport; and made an uneventful visual approach. The 59 minute flight felt like 10 minutes and we made every effort to cover all the bases. The event went smoothly after careful and gentle communications with the passengers and flight attendants. The flight attendant did a marvelous job; and as captain; I am running the event over and over; certainly there are details we could have done better. All in all; it was gratifying to see our training kick in and support the decisions and actions that had to be made.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700's number one engine failed in flight at 32;000 FT; an emergency was declared and the flight returned to the departure airport.

Narrative: Climbing out at approximately 32;000 FT; a very loud bang was heard from the #1 engine. The #1 engine instruments all displayed engine failure. We declared an emergency; asked for a descent and vectors back to the departure airport; and made an uneventful visual approach. The 59 minute flight felt like 10 minutes and we made every effort to cover all the bases. The event went smoothly after careful and gentle communications with the Passengers and Flight Attendants. The Flight Attendant did a marvelous job; and as Captain; I am running the event over and over; certainly there are details we could have done better. All in all; it was gratifying to see our training kick in and support the decisions and actions that had to be made.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A B737-700's number one engine failed in flight at 32;000 ft; an emergency was declared and the flight returned to the departure airport.