Flight crew shuts down engine in cruise.

Attributes
ACN	438955
Time
Date	199905
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anc.airport
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czvr.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute airway : ns.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	438955
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 flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

This was a scheduled cargo flight from ewr to anc. At cruise, approximately 1 hour into the flight, I observed the #2 engine oil pressure indicating 35-36 psi. This is lower than normal, but within limits. The oil quantity was 2 quarts lower than #1 and #3, but within limits. Quick reference manual was reviewed for applicable items. Approximately 4 hours into cruise, decided to climb to FL390. During the climb, the #2 engine 'evm comp' turned amber with a 5 quart reading. As we leveled off at FL390, we retarded the #2 throttle and observed a decrease in evm and a noticeable decrease in detectable vibration. We contacted company maintenance via ACARS and they advised a precautionary engine shutdown. This was completed and an uneventful 2 engine approach and landing was conducted at anc, our destination. No emergency was declared nor was traffic priority requested. The APU was started for the approach for backup electrical power. We reviewed all applicable airports on/near our route of flight and decided anc was our best choice. Engine shutdown occurred with approximately 1 hour 30 mins remaining to destination. The engine was replaced at anc when metal fragments were discovered in the oil.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC SHUTS DOWN ENG IN CRUISE.

Narrative: THIS WAS A SCHEDULED CARGO FLT FROM EWR TO ANC. AT CRUISE, APPROX 1 HR INTO THE FLT, I OBSERVED THE #2 ENG OIL PRESSURE INDICATING 35-36 PSI. THIS IS LOWER THAN NORMAL, BUT WITHIN LIMITS. THE OIL QUANTITY WAS 2 QUARTS LOWER THAN #1 AND #3, BUT WITHIN LIMITS. QUICK REF MANUAL WAS REVIEWED FOR APPLICABLE ITEMS. APPROX 4 HRS INTO CRUISE, DECIDED TO CLB TO FL390. DURING THE CLB, THE #2 ENG 'EVM COMP' TURNED AMBER WITH A 5 QUART READING. AS WE LEVELED OFF AT FL390, WE RETARDED THE #2 THROTTLE AND OBSERVED A DECREASE IN EVM AND A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN DETECTABLE VIBRATION. WE CONTACTED COMPANY MAINT VIA ACARS AND THEY ADVISED A PRECAUTIONARY ENG SHUTDOWN. THIS WAS COMPLETED AND AN UNEVENTFUL 2 ENG APCH AND LNDG WAS CONDUCTED AT ANC, OUR DEST. NO EMER WAS DECLARED NOR WAS TFC PRIORITY REQUESTED. THE APU WAS STARTED FOR THE APCH FOR BACKUP ELECTRICAL PWR. WE REVIEWED ALL APPLICABLE ARPTS ON/NEAR OUR RTE OF FLT AND DECIDED ANC WAS OUR BEST CHOICE. ENG SHUTDOWN OCCURRED WITH APPROX 1 HR 30 MINS REMAINING TO DEST. THE ENG WAS REPLACED AT ANC WHEN METAL FRAGMENTS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE OIL.

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.