Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
Bird strike at takeoff caused left engine stall/surge; loss of thrust. Turkey vulture type of large bird entered left engine at low altitude; causing loud repeated banging noises and vibration along with fireballs exiting tailpipe. Engine N1 and EGT fluctuated and smoothed out after autothrottles disconnected and thrust lever retarded about 20%. We left the engine running at about 50% N1; started APU and completed Engine Stall/Surge checklist. Advised ATC that we were returning to ZZZ. We were airborne for 17 minutes. Reviewed single engine landing checklist. Landed uneventfully with excellent support from airport emergency services. Large birds in the area. Company training made this an easily handled event.
Air carrier Captain reported that a bird strike on takeoff resulted in an engine failure and return to the departure airport.