Air carrier medium large transport returned to departure airport account fluctuations in #1 engine d...

Attributes
ACN	133111
Time
Date	199001
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cun
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32000 msl bound upper : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : muha
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	133111
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The #1 engine had minor EPR fluctuations before level off. I switched the bleeds and although the fluctuations stopped, I don't think it was a factor, because I momentarily reselected the bleed west/O any problem. About FL320 the #1 engine started major fluctuations on all of its gauges. The mach was about .790. The captain brought the throttle back to idle and the fluctuations returned so he returned it to idle. We discussed and decided to return to cun. About this time the captain turned and while looking at the fuel panel he directed me to go to tank to engine confign. I had the fuel panel set with xfeeds open, #2 boost pumps on, and the #1 and 3 boost pumps off. I turned the #1 and 3 boost pumps on and then dropped my hands down and closed the #1 and 3 xfeeds. I remember using both hands because I usually only use one hand and it was so symmetrical turning on the #1 and 3 boost pumps and then dropping straight down to close the #1 and 3 xfeeds. The #2 xfeed was open and I had not balanced the fuel. Reconfiguring the fuel panel restored normal engine operation the throttles were used normally for landing. On the ground after landing I asked the captain if the fuel panel was set properly when he looked at it and directed the reconfign. He responded that it looked fine. Possible cause: fuel contamination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG RETURNED TO DEP ARPT ACCOUNT FLUCTUATIONS IN #1 ENGINE DURING CLIMB. UNABLE CALLBACK ACCOUNT EXTENDED VACATION.

Narrative: THE #1 ENG HAD MINOR EPR FLUCTUATIONS BEFORE LEVEL OFF. I SWITCHED THE BLEEDS AND ALTHOUGH THE FLUCTUATIONS STOPPED, I DON'T THINK IT WAS A FACTOR, BECAUSE I MOMENTARILY RESELECTED THE BLEED W/O ANY PROB. ABOUT FL320 THE #1 ENG STARTED MAJOR FLUCTUATIONS ON ALL OF ITS GAUGES. THE MACH WAS ABOUT .790. THE CAPT BROUGHT THE THROTTLE BACK TO IDLE AND THE FLUCTUATIONS RETURNED SO HE RETURNED IT TO IDLE. WE DISCUSSED AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO CUN. ABOUT THIS TIME THE CAPT TURNED AND WHILE LOOKING AT THE FUEL PANEL HE DIRECTED ME TO GO TO TANK TO ENG CONFIGN. I HAD THE FUEL PANEL SET WITH XFEEDS OPEN, #2 BOOST PUMPS ON, AND THE #1 AND 3 BOOST PUMPS OFF. I TURNED THE #1 AND 3 BOOST PUMPS ON AND THEN DROPPED MY HANDS DOWN AND CLOSED THE #1 AND 3 XFEEDS. I REMEMBER USING BOTH HANDS BECAUSE I USUALLY ONLY USE ONE HAND AND IT WAS SO SYMMETRICAL TURNING ON THE #1 AND 3 BOOST PUMPS AND THEN DROPPING STRAIGHT DOWN TO CLOSE THE #1 AND 3 XFEEDS. THE #2 XFEED WAS OPEN AND I HAD NOT BALANCED THE FUEL. RECONFIGURING THE FUEL PANEL RESTORED NORMAL ENG OPERATION THE THROTTLES WERE USED NORMALLY FOR LNDG. ON THE GND AFTER LNDG I ASKED THE CAPT IF THE FUEL PANEL WAS SET PROPERLY WHEN HE LOOKED AT IT AND DIRECTED THE RECONFIGN. HE RESPONDED THAT IT LOOKED FINE. POSSIBLE CAUSE: FUEL CONTAMINATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Air carrier medium large transport returned to departure airport account fluctuations in #1 engine during climb. Unable callback account extended vacation.