In-flight engine shutdown.

Attributes
ACN	318910
Time
Date	199510
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nqm
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa tower : cid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747-100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	318910
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	318673
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During cruise at FL370, the #2 engine compressor stalled and engine was shut down. We were too heavy to maintain our altitude with 3 engines, so we descended. Because of the fact we were in oceanic airspace and talking to hnl radio, we were unable to get a clearance to a lower altitude right away. There was another flight behind us by approximately 5 mins at FL350. The captain was talking to hnl radio requesting a lower altitude. I broadcasted our position, altitude, problem and intentions on 121.5. During the initial descent, we turned off track to avoid any other traffic during our descent. Oakland oceanic control declared an emergency for us as he was unable to clear us for a descent due to the aircraft 5 mins in trail of us. Normally aircraft at the same altitude in oceanic airspace require as little as 15 mins of separation. Once we were level at FL270, we restarted the engine and ATC cleared us back on track and FL330. Supplemental information from acn 318673: #2 engine stalled several times (loud popping and aircraft shaking) egt climbing. Limits not exceeded. Restarted #2 engine.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT ENG SHUTDOWN.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT FL370, THE #2 ENG COMPRESSOR STALLED AND ENG WAS SHUT DOWN. WE WERE TOO HVY TO MAINTAIN OUR ALT WITH 3 ENGS, SO WE DSNDED. BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE WERE IN OCEANIC AIRSPACE AND TALKING TO HNL RADIO, WE WERE UNABLE TO GET A CLRNC TO A LOWER ALT RIGHT AWAY. THERE WAS ANOTHER FLT BEHIND US BY APPROX 5 MINS AT FL350. THE CAPT WAS TALKING TO HNL RADIO REQUESTING A LOWER ALT. I BROADCASTED OUR POS, ALT, PROB AND INTENTIONS ON 121.5. DURING THE INITIAL DSCNT, WE TURNED OFF TRACK TO AVOID ANY OTHER TFC DURING OUR DSCNT. OAKLAND OCEANIC CTL DECLARED AN EMER FOR US AS HE WAS UNABLE TO CLR US FOR A DSCNT DUE TO THE ACFT 5 MINS IN TRAIL OF US. NORMALLY ACFT AT THE SAME ALT IN OCEANIC AIRSPACE REQUIRE AS LITTLE AS 15 MINS OF SEPARATION. ONCE WE WERE LEVEL AT FL270, WE RESTARTED THE ENG AND ATC CLRED US BACK ON TRACK AND FL330. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 318673: #2 ENG STALLED SEVERAL TIMES (LOUD POPPING AND ACFT SHAKING) EGT CLBING. LIMITS NOT EXCEEDED. RESTARTED #2 ENG.

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.