B737-300 has engine surge during climb.

Attributes
ACN	321530
Time
Date	199511
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	321530
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Passing through 17000 ft climbing to FL230. After normal reduced thrust takeoff and normal climb, #1 engine started to surge. N1 went from 75 percent to 100 percent with resultant aircraft yaw. Autothrottle disconnected, reduced thrust on #1 engine, and leveled at FL210 with ATC concurrence. At higher thrust settings engine surged -- thrust reduced again and clearance back to iah requested and received. Contacted dispatch on ACARS and sfo line maintenance on commercial radio. Advised to turn off left pmc and at mid to lower power settings engine operated normally (all other engine parameters including vibration normal). Notified the first flight attendant of intention to return to iah, landing in approximately 10 mins. I also informed the passenger. Made a normal 2-ENG flap 30 degrees approach and landing on runway 14L at iah, at a weight of 119000 pounds (5000 pounds over maximum landing weight). I deemed it safer to land overweight than to circle with a malfunctioning engine. After a normal landing I taxied to gate and shut down the aircraft. Prior to final approach we reviewed the single engine approach and landing checklist in case the #1 engine failed or had to be shut down. All other checklists completed. Clear by both pilots worked great and the B737-300 aqp training made this a 'non-event.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 HAS ENG SURGE DURING CLB.

Narrative: PASSING THROUGH 17000 FT CLBING TO FL230. AFTER NORMAL REDUCED THRUST TKOF AND NORMAL CLB, #1 ENG STARTED TO SURGE. N1 WENT FROM 75 PERCENT TO 100 PERCENT WITH RESULTANT ACFT YAW. AUTOTHROTTLE DISCONNECTED, REDUCED THRUST ON #1 ENG, AND LEVELED AT FL210 WITH ATC CONCURRENCE. AT HIGHER THRUST SETTINGS ENG SURGED -- THRUST REDUCED AGAIN AND CLRNC BACK TO IAH REQUESTED AND RECEIVED. CONTACTED DISPATCH ON ACARS AND SFO LINE MAINT ON COMMERCIAL RADIO. ADVISED TO TURN OFF L PMC AND AT MID TO LOWER PWR SETTINGS ENG OPERATED NORMALLY (ALL OTHER ENG PARAMETERS INCLUDING VIBRATION NORMAL). NOTIFIED THE FIRST FLT ATTENDANT OF INTENTION TO RETURN TO IAH, LNDG IN APPROX 10 MINS. I ALSO INFORMED THE PAX. MADE A NORMAL 2-ENG FLAP 30 DEGS APCH AND LNDG ON RWY 14L AT IAH, AT A WEIGHT OF 119000 LBS (5000 LBS OVER MAX LNDG WT). I DEEMED IT SAFER TO LAND OVERWT THAN TO CIRCLE WITH A MALFUNCTIONING ENG. AFTER A NORMAL LNDG I TAXIED TO GATE AND SHUT DOWN THE ACFT. PRIOR TO FINAL APCH WE REVIEWED THE SINGLE ENG APCH AND LNDG CHKLIST IN CASE THE #1 ENG FAILED OR HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN. ALL OTHER CHKLISTS COMPLETED. CLR BY BOTH PLTS WORKED GREAT AND THE B737-300 AQP TRAINING MADE THIS A 'NON-EVENT.'

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.