B737-300FLT crew experiences N1 overspd on climbout. Returns to departure airport for maintenance.

Attributes
ACN	746675
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 158 flight time type : 6800
ASRS Report	746675
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe maintenance problem : improper documentation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : engine ovspo wing
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We were climbing out of ZZZ and at about FL180 we had a yawing to the left with high N1 and what looked like an over-temperature on the #1 engine. I was the PF and at that time I retarded the thrust on #1 engine and turned off the autoplt. We climbed to FL200 and talked with ATC and told them we had a problem. We stayed with center and ran the engine overheat checklist and the surge checklist. We then called dispatch and maintenance control. They told me to return to ZZZ. All engine readings were normal and we returned to ZZZ without any problems. When I got to the gate maintenance was waiting for us and we talked about the write-up. Also scheduling was calling at the same time as dispatch. When the engine had its problem; I wrote it up as a possible over-temperature. I saw a red light; but I failed to notice the egt; it was the red light for the N1. As I continued my day and talking with maintenance supervisors it was decided that what happened was a bad pmc had allowed an overspd on engine #1. The write-up was corrected to reflect that an overspd had occurred and not an over-temperature.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300FLT CREW EXPERIENCES N1 OVERSPD ON CLIMBOUT. RETURNS TO DEP ARPT FOR MAINT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLBING OUT OF ZZZ AND AT ABOUT FL180 WE HAD A YAWING TO THE L WITH HIGH N1 AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE AN OVER-TEMP ON THE #1 ENG. I WAS THE PF AND AT THAT TIME I RETARDED THE THRUST ON #1 ENG AND TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT. WE CLBED TO FL200 AND TALKED WITH ATC AND TOLD THEM WE HAD A PROB. WE STAYED WITH CTR AND RAN THE ENG OVERHEAT CHKLIST AND THE SURGE CHKLIST. WE THEN CALLED DISPATCH AND MAINT CTL. THEY TOLD ME TO RETURN TO ZZZ. ALL ENG READINGS WERE NORMAL AND WE RETURNED TO ZZZ WITHOUT ANY PROBS. WHEN I GOT TO THE GATE MAINT WAS WAITING FOR US AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE WRITE-UP. ALSO SCHEDULING WAS CALLING AT THE SAME TIME AS DISPATCH. WHEN THE ENG HAD ITS PROB; I WROTE IT UP AS A POSSIBLE OVER-TEMP. I SAW A RED LIGHT; BUT I FAILED TO NOTICE THE EGT; IT WAS THE RED LIGHT FOR THE N1. AS I CONTINUED MY DAY AND TALKING WITH MAINT SUPVRS IT WAS DECIDED THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS A BAD PMC HAD ALLOWED AN OVERSPD ON ENG #1. THE WRITE-UP WAS CORRECTED TO REFLECT THAT AN OVERSPD HAD OCCURRED AND NOT AN OVER-TEMP.

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.