MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Passing FL310 for FL340; sudden onset of moderate to severe vibration. EVM engine 3 amber at 5.0. Complied with EVM High QRH Procedure. Retarded throttle; vibration lessened but still significant. All other engine indications normal for #3. Decided after discussion to call what we were feeling severe damage to #3. Ran QRH Severe Damage checklist for #3; shut engine down; [advised ATC]; returned for uneventful landing to RWY XXC ZZZ. Upon Block in and shutdown MX found #3 Engine Turbine severely damaged.
MD-11 Captain reported an inflight shutdown of #3 engine due to severe vibration; causing an air turnback.