Flight crew experiences excessive torque fluctuation, shuts down engine, and returns to originating ...

Attributes
ACN	299777
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR 72
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 6850 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	299777
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Plus or minus 40 NM north of dfw climbing through plus or minus 14000 ft, the number 1 (left) engine started surging and fluctuating from plus or minus 100 percent torque to plus or minus 50 percent torque. (Normal power setting for this altitude plus or minus 80 percent torque). Torque indicator bugs remained constant and appeared to be normal along with all other indications being normal. After declaring an emergency, we performed engine failure/precautionary shutdown procedure as well as turning back towards dfw. We requested crash fire rescue equipment be standing by, but the landing at dfw was without incident, and evacuation was not necessary. We taxied to the gate and deplaned normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE TORQUE FLUCTUATION, SHUTS DOWN ENG, AND RETURNS TO ORIGINATING ARPT.

Narrative: PLUS OR MINUS 40 NM N OF DFW CLBING THROUGH PLUS OR MINUS 14000 FT, THE NUMBER 1 (L) ENG STARTED SURGING AND FLUCTUATING FROM PLUS OR MINUS 100 PERCENT TORQUE TO PLUS OR MINUS 50 PERCENT TORQUE. (NORMAL PWR SETTING FOR THIS ALT PLUS OR MINUS 80 PERCENT TORQUE). TORQUE INDICATOR BUGS REMAINED CONSTANT AND APPEARED TO BE NORMAL ALONG WITH ALL OTHER INDICATIONS BEING NORMAL. AFTER DECLARING AN EMER, WE PERFORMED ENG FAILURE/PRECAUTIONARY SHUTDOWN PROC AS WELL AS TURNING BACK TOWARDS DFW. WE REQUESTED CFR BE STANDING BY, BUT THE LNDG AT DFW WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND EVACUATION WAS NOT NECESSARY. WE TAXIED TO THE GATE AND DEPLANED NORMALLY.

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.

Flight crew experiences excessive torque fluctuation, shuts down engine, and returns to originating airport.