MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft
We were at cruise flight at FL330. Approximately 30 minutes into cruise flight; in smooth air; we experienced a relatively intense shudder in the aircraft. During this shudder; an audible bang could be heard; although it wasn't very loud in the cockpit. The captain and I both immediately noticed that the N1 and N2 indications for the #2 engine were both rolling back and the EGT was immediately maxed out at 800. We both agreed that we had lost the right engine and with the shudder; bang; and high EGT; we suspected engine damage. We [advised ATC] and started a descent. The flight attendants immediately started chiming; and I asked them to standby; as we were trying to deal with the situation.After starting the descent; I began going through the QRH. Upon completion of the checklist; I contacted dispatch and informed them that we were diverting; which we had already coordinated with ATC. Our dispatcher was very helpful. He did a great job coordinating with the tower; CFR; and our station ops. He also gave us the weather.After returning from speaking with dispatch I called back to the flight attendants. It had probably been ten minutes at this point since I had asked them to standby; and I commended them for their professionalism. They had obviously been calling up to tell us about the odd engine noise and vibration they heard; and they were asked to standby; they immediately went into action preparing the cabin for landing. By the time I called back to them they were already seated and ready to land. I informed them that we had an engine failure; we're diverting to ZZZ; and would be on the ground in 15 minutes; and that we didn't anticipate needing to evacuate.Next I briefed the passengers; and informed them that we had an issue with one of our engines; and gave them the same info regarding the landing airport and time remaining. After completing that I rejoined the Captain and he had already coordinated a continued descent to FL180 and we were flying direct to the divert airport. We completed the single engine approach to landing checklist; and the single engine landing checklist. The Captain made a beautiful landing; and the rollout and taxi to the gate were uneventful. CFR were standing by on the ramp when we landed; and they followed us to our parking spot. I want to compliment the Captain on the job he did handling this. He was calm and composed throughout; and did a great job getting the plane safely on the ground.As a line pilot; I don't want to assume that I know our preventative mx practices. However; it seems that we push the engines on our MD80 fleet past the point that they should be run. Our program allows us to operate engines at a higher temperature; simply because they can't operate under normal takeoff power settings without exceeding temperature limitations. This seems to be causing our engines to fail more often.
Aircrew experienced an in-flight engine failure and successfully diverted to an interim airport.