Possible bird ingestion on takeoff caused air carrier X to shut down an engine and return to the airport. Tower controller observed sparks, flames and smoke as the aircraft departed and notified the flight crew.

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Attributes
ACN	346679
Time
Date	199609
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : abe tower : ict
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff other
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 9 flight time total : 40
ASRS Report	346679
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 controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During rotation, I observed sparks, flames and smoke coming from near left engine of B737. I immediately informed the pilot and confirmed that it was the engine itself with binoculars. After approximately 4 flying mi I no longer observed any smoke. The pilot informed me that he had shut down the #1 engine. The B737 returned to abe and landed safely. The captain believed that he may have ingested some birds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE BIRD INGESTION ON TKOF CAUSED ACR X TO SHUT DOWN AN ENG AND RETURN TO THE ARPT. TWR CTLR OBSERVED SPARKS, FLAMES AND SMOKE AS THE ACFT DEPARTED AND NOTIFIED THE FLC.

Narrative: DURING ROTATION, I OBSERVED SPARKS, FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM NEAR L ENG OF B737. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED THE PLT AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE ENG ITSELF WITH BINOCULARS. AFTER APPROX 4 FLYING MI I NO LONGER OBSERVED ANY SMOKE. THE PLT INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD SHUT DOWN THE #1 ENG. THE B737 RETURNED TO ABE AND LANDED SAFELY. THE CAPT BELIEVED THAT HE MAY HAVE INGESTED SOME BIRDS.

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.