Gulfstream G200 (IAI 1126 Galaxy)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 125; Flight Crew Total 9830; Flight Crew Type 1700
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
It was a normal flight climbing out of FL315 to assigned altitude of FL330. There were thunderstorms in the area we were deviating around. We had a large bump that sounded like a gear door closing hard. All instruments and gauges were normal. Just prior to leveling off at FL330 at climb power; we had continuous bumps and aircraft was shaking. Looking at the engine instruments the right engine was surging. N1 was in the red around 105% and ITT was in red around 1;000 degrees. I was pilot not flying and pulled right throttle back to around 60% (the engine smoothed out below 90%). We determined that it was a compressor stall and advised ATC we need to return to [departure airport] (about 60 miles behind us). We did not declare an emergency or shut the engine down; it was stable at 60% power and figured we might need it. The right engine was left at 60% at was in normal operating range (all green gauges). We ran a rough engine check list and followed the G200 Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM). We landed safely.
G200 Captain reported right engine compressor stall at top of climb; FL330. Reducing thrust to 90% smoothed the engine out; and they elected to return to departure airport.