An MD88 on climb out at 2000 ft declared an emergency and returned to departure airport due to elect...

Attributes
ACN	662158
Time
Date	200506
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 10420 flight time type : 3420
ASRS Report	662158
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	662161
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : flashing lights - cycling relays other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

At approximately 2000 ft MSL we experienced electrical problems. Numerous relays could be heard cycling back and forth with flashing lights throughout the cabin and cockpit. In addition; we lost our FMS; flight directors; map display autothrottles and autoplt. The altitude window was frozen as well as the command airspeed bug. We could not communication on VHF radio #1 but could barely communication on VHF #2. During climb out we declared an emergency and stated our intention to come back and land visually at ZZZ. We turned to downwind and attempted to start the APU. The APU started on the second attempt and we started to get back some of our flight displays on final. We backed up the approach with the ILS to runway 14 at ZZZ. Autobrakes medium were selected and subsequent landing and rollout was uneventful. We terminated the emergency and taxied to the gate. Supplemental information from acn 662161: numerous relays could be heard cycling. Numerous lights and warning systems flashed in the cockpit and cabin. Additionally we lost our FMS; flight directors; map display; autothrottles and autoplt. The altitude select window was frozen as well as the command airspeed bug. Communication #1 was inoperative and communication #2 was barely useable. We declared an emergency and were vectored by ATC to a visual approach. Callback conversation with reporter acn 662161 revealed the following information: the reporter stated that the exact component that caused this event is unknown as maintenance 'shot gunned' the engine driven generator systems with many components replaced.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 ON CLBOUT AT 2000 FT DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO DEP ARPT DUE TO ELECTRICAL PWR PROBS; RELAYS CYCLING; LIGHTS FLASHING IN COCKPIT AND CABIN. LOST NUMEROUS DISPLAYS AND SYSTEMS.

Narrative: AT APPROX 2000 FT MSL WE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBS. NUMEROUS RELAYS COULD BE HEARD CYCLING BACK AND FORTH WITH FLASHING LIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE CABIN AND COCKPIT. IN ADDITION; WE LOST OUR FMS; FLT DIRECTORS; MAP DISPLAY AUTOTHROTTLES AND AUTOPLT. THE ALT WINDOW WAS FROZEN AS WELL AS THE COMMAND AIRSPEED BUG. WE COULD NOT COM ON VHF RADIO #1 BUT COULD BARELY COM ON VHF #2. DURING CLBOUT WE DECLARED AN EMER AND STATED OUR INTENTION TO COME BACK AND LAND VISUALLY AT ZZZ. WE TURNED TO DOWNWIND AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE APU. THE APU STARTED ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT AND WE STARTED TO GET BACK SOME OF OUR FLT DISPLAYS ON FINAL. WE BACKED UP THE APCH WITH THE ILS TO RWY 14 AT ZZZ. AUTOBRAKES MEDIUM WERE SELECTED AND SUBSEQUENT LNDG AND ROLLOUT WAS UNEVENTFUL. WE TERMINATED THE EMER AND TAXIED TO THE GATE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 662161: NUMEROUS RELAYS COULD BE HEARD CYCLING. NUMEROUS LIGHTS AND WARNING SYSTEMS FLASHED IN THE COCKPIT AND CABIN. ADDITIONALLY WE LOST OUR FMS; FLT DIRECTORS; MAP DISPLAY; AUTOTHROTTLES AND AUTOPLT. THE ALT SELECT WINDOW WAS FROZEN AS WELL AS THE COMMAND AIRSPEED BUG. COM #1 WAS INOP AND COM #2 WAS BARELY USEABLE. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND WERE VECTORED BY ATC TO A VISUAL APCH. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR ACN 662161 REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE EXACT COMPONENT THAT CAUSED THIS EVENT IS UNKNOWN AS MAINT 'SHOT GUNNED' THE ENGINE DRIVEN GENERATOR SYSTEMS WITH MANY COMPONENTS REPLACED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

An MD88 on climb out at 2000 ft declared an emergency and returned to departure airport due to electrical power problems; relays cycling; lights flashing in cockpit and cabin. Lost numerous displays and systems.