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B737 flight crew reported returning to departure airport after a bird flock encounter in initial climb caused extensive damage to the right engine.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1311855 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201511 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 116 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 214 Flight Crew Type 4000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal |
Narrative:
After takeoff climbing through approximately 2000 feet AGL; flew through flock of large birds; type unknown; and experienced multiple impacts. Immediately had indications of engine damage with rt engine vibration meter over 5.0 and smell of burning feathers/flesh. Retarded rt engine thrust lever to idle and indications returned to normal. [Advised ATC]; turned to downwind; and leveled off at 8000 feet MSL; approximately 200 feet below overcast. Started with excessive vibration checklist; but then switched to engine severe damage checklist. Due to fact that rt engine indications had stabilized and that multiple impacts had been detected; elected to continue to operate rt engine in case LF engine developed problems as flight continued. Then executed one engine inoperative checklist; coordinated with ATC for return to runway; coordinated with company ops; briefed flight attendants and passengers; and briefed approach as flew to 15-mile downwind and turned base to return to field. Made uneventful landing; had crash fire rescue equipment [crash fire rescue] check out aircraft; and taxied to gate. Elected to continue to operate rt engine due to normal indications and less than good braking conditions. On post-flight extensive damage to rt engine noted as well as spray of blood and feathers throughout inlet.this would be a great discussion item to use for sim briefs; a dynamic time-sensitive problem with unknown possible complications.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737 flight crew reported returning to departure airport after a bird flock encounter in initial climb caused extensive damage to the right engine.
Narrative: After takeoff climbing through approximately 2000 feet AGL; flew through flock of large birds; type unknown; and experienced multiple impacts. Immediately had indications of engine damage with RT ENG vibration meter over 5.0 and smell of burning feathers/flesh. Retarded RT ENG thrust lever to idle and indications returned to normal. [Advised ATC]; turned to downwind; and leveled off at 8000 feet MSL; approximately 200 feet below overcast. Started with Excessive Vibration Checklist; but then switched to Engine Severe Damage Checklist. Due to fact that RT ENG indications had stabilized and that multiple impacts had been detected; elected to continue to operate RT ENG in case LF ENG developed problems as flight continued. Then executed One Engine Inoperative Checklist; coordinated with ATC for return to runway; coordinated with Company Ops; briefed Flight Attendants and Passengers; and briefed approach as flew to 15-mile downwind and turned base to return to field. Made uneventful landing; had CFR [Crash Fire Rescue] check out aircraft; and taxied to gate. Elected to continue to operate RT ENG due to normal indications and less than good braking conditions. On post-flight extensive damage to RT ENG noted as well as spray of blood and feathers throughout inlet.This would be a great discussion item to use for sim briefs; a dynamic time-sensitive problem with unknown possible complications.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.