MD-82
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 20000
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Workload; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Departed normally At around 15;000 FT We noticed the right engine was not developing as much thrust as the left. I advanced the right throttle to even them up; but now there was a large split in the throttles. I tried some anti-ice for a few seconds. Initially; this seemed to work. After just a couple of seconds; however; the right engine thrust started declining again. I had full right throttle and was only getting partial thrust and declining. An emergency was declared and we turned to return to the departure airport. I gave the flight attendants a TEST briefing for a normal landing and told them to do their 30 second review. I then informed the passenger of our situation. Soon; the right engine was developing no thrust. We ran the appropriate checklists. Landing was normal on XXL. We stopped on the runway. Either the Tower or Airfield Rescue and Fire Fighters (ARFF) said there was a lot of smoke coming from the right engine on approach and landing; but it wasn't smoking now. There was even talk of taxiing to the gate; but upon further review ARFF discovered quite a lot of fuel leaking from the right nacelle. We shut down the left engine and I informed ARFF that we had the APU running. They told me to shut that down too. They continued to comment on the amount of fuel draining from the rt. nacelle. I went ahead and pulled the right fire handle to close another valve. This didn't seem to have any affect. A crew came out with some barrels to put under the leak and a large supply of 'greasweep' or 'cat litter' to soak up the fuel on the runway. Eventually; the leak subsided. Stairs and busses were brought out and the pax and flight attendants deplaned without incident. The First Officer and I stayed with the airplane as some assistance was needed to tow it to the gate.
A MD-80's right engine was producing little to no thrust during climb; so an emergency was declared and the flight returned to the departure airport where ARFF found leaking fuel. They directed an engine and APU shutdown.