Narrative:

We had just lifted off, passing approximately 500 ft AGL when there was a loud noise and the #2 engine appeared to be winding down. The first officer was flying and continued to do so as the engine gradually recovered. When I realized that things were momentarily under control, I checked in with the flight attendants. They mentioned the presence of smoke in the cabin. That solidified the decision to return to charleston. The departure controller was advised and I had the first officer continue to fly as well as communicate with ATC so that I could deal with everybody else and plan out a proper course of action. I received follow up reports from the cabin which together with cockpit information indicated that the emergency conditions were basically over. I did advise our company that we were returning. At the time of charleston tower's query, emergency conditions were no longer present, so I declined to declare an emergency. The tower advised that they were declaring an emergency for us. I finally assumed PF duties on base for an uneventful approach and landing. We taxied to the gate and deplaned the passenger in a normal manner. The fire department met us and after a thorough inspection agreed that their presence was no longer necessary. A quick look at the engine confirmed what we thought. We had ingested 1 or more birds. We later discovered 2 additional bird strikes on the leading edge of the right wing. The situation, while harrowing for our passenger, was dealt with in a calm, cool, and professional manner. Much of the successful outcome can be attributed to the outstanding performance by the first officer and three flight attendants. They all performed in an exemplary manner which allowed me to perform my duties as captain.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 RETURN LAND AFTER EXPERIENCING BIRD STRIKE ON TKOF FROM CHS.

Narrative: WE HAD JUST LIFTED OFF, PASSING APPROX 500 FT AGL WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE #2 ENG APPEARED TO BE WINDING DOWN. THE FO WAS FLYING AND CONTINUED TO DO SO AS THE ENG GRADUALLY RECOVERED. WHEN I REALIZED THAT THINGS WERE MOMENTARILY UNDER CTL, I CHKED IN WITH THE FLT ATTENDANTS. THEY MENTIONED THE PRESENCE OF SMOKE IN THE CABIN. THAT SOLIDIFIED THE DECISION TO RETURN TO CHARLESTON. THE DEP CTLR WAS ADVISED AND I HAD THE FO CONTINUE TO FLY AS WELL AS COMMUNICATE WITH ATC SO THAT I COULD DEAL WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AND PLAN OUT A PROPER COURSE OF ACTION. I RECEIVED FOLLOW UP RPTS FROM THE CABIN WHICH TOGETHER WITH COCKPIT INFO INDICATED THAT THE EMER CONDITIONS WERE BASICALLY OVER. I DID ADVISE OUR COMPANY THAT WE WERE RETURNING. AT THE TIME OF CHARLESTON TWR'S QUERY, EMER CONDITIONS WERE NO LONGER PRESENT, SO I DECLINED TO DECLARE AN EMER. THE TWR ADVISED THAT THEY WERE DECLARING AN EMER FOR US. I FINALLY ASSUMED PF DUTIES ON BASE FOR AN UNEVENTFUL APCH AND LNDG. WE TAXIED TO THE GATE AND DEPLANED THE PAX IN A NORMAL MANNER. THE FIRE DEPT MET US AND AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION AGREED THAT THEIR PRESENCE WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY. A QUICK LOOK AT THE ENG CONFIRMED WHAT WE THOUGHT. WE HAD INGESTED 1 OR MORE BIRDS. WE LATER DISCOVERED 2 ADDITIONAL BIRD STRIKES ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE R WING. THE SIT, WHILE HARROWING FOR OUR PAX, WAS DEALT WITH IN A CALM, COOL, AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER. MUCH OF THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY THE FO AND THREE FLT ATTENDANTS. THEY ALL PERFORMED IN AN EXEMPLARY MANNER WHICH ALLOWED ME TO PERFORM MY DUTIES AS CAPT.

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.