B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 4000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Turning to intercept final for the VOR approach; we experienced a right engine failure rolling out of a right turn and leveling off at 3;000 FT when the engines were throttling up from idle. First indication was a pop from the engine followed by a whine down of the engine accompanied by red indications on the EICAS. I then turned off the autopilot and declared an emergency while asking for vectors off the approach to the east. [I] asked my First Officer to run the Engine Failure Checklist to shut it down or look at a restart. While he was rifling through the yellow book; I got on the PA and explained to the passengers what they had heard and that they would get instructions from the flight attendants shortly. I then called the Purser and asked him to do a prep for evacuation with the passengers.When the First Officer was starting the Engine Failure Checklist; the engine restarted on its own and came to idle. We discussed what flap setting would be appropriate and decided on a flaps 20 landing thinking that it may fail again at any time. We requested an ILS to [right runway] knowing it didn't require the 90-degree turn on short final into what might be a failing engine. After landing [the First Officer] gave the 'remain seated' call and we had the fire company determine that there was no further problem before we shut it down and went to the gate.
During the checklist I noticed engine indications were now near normal and the engine had restarted (assumed due to igniters being on). We decided to return to the airport for a visual approach to [the right runway] backed up by the ILS. We configured the aircraft (flaps and speeds) as if on single engine; in case it failed again. The landing was uneventful.
B757 flight crew had an engine failure turning onto final approach. Flight crew requested vectors off the approach and ran the Engine Failure Checklist. Engine restarted on its own and flight crew continued on a visual approach to uneventful landing.