A B737 crew experienced autothrottles advancing to full power, during and shortly after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	505373
Time
Date	200103
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : cak.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : ewr six
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	505373
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On takeoff roll, autothrottles failed to function. Pulled them back to proper settings. On liftoff, turned 060 degrees. At 400 ft AGL throttle went full power. I righted them. At 2 DME outbound and 1500 ft, they went full power again. I secured them and resat them. Copilot's leg -- looked up, we were passing 2800 ft, approaching 4 DME. Leveloff altitude was 2500 ft. I took control of aircraft, pulled power, pushed nose over, started turn and called departure. Told them I was at 2900 ft and descending. They said 'don't worry, climb to 6000 ft.' no other aircraft involved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 CREW EXPERIENCED AUTOTHROTTLES ADVANCING TO FULL PWR, DURING AND SHORTLY AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: ON TKOF ROLL, AUTOTHROTTLES FAILED TO FUNCTION. PULLED THEM BACK TO PROPER SETTINGS. ON LIFTOFF, TURNED 060 DEGS. AT 400 FT AGL THROTTLE WENT FULL PWR. I RIGHTED THEM. AT 2 DME OUTBOUND AND 1500 FT, THEY WENT FULL PWR AGAIN. I SECURED THEM AND RESAT THEM. COPLT'S LEG -- LOOKED UP, WE WERE PASSING 2800 FT, APCHING 4 DME. LEVELOFF ALT WAS 2500 FT. I TOOK CTL OF ACFT, PULLED PWR, PUSHED NOSE OVER, STARTED TURN AND CALLED DEP. TOLD THEM I WAS AT 2900 FT AND DSNDING. THEY SAID 'DON'T WORRY, CLB TO 6000 FT.' NO OTHER ACFT INVOLVED.

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.