B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
First Officer (FO) was the pilot flying and I was the pilot monitoring. On initial climb after takeoff about 500 feet the number 2 engine overheat light illuminated with no other adverse indications. Departure climb and turns were continued normally until we had a chance to address issue. Checklist had us reduce throttle to idle and after awhile the overheat light extinguished. Checklist had us operate engine at reduced thrust and keep overheat light extinguished. Asked ATC for return and declared emergency. Two different ATC controllers asked for the same emergency info (SOB; fuel remaining and which engine had the problem) which I believe was excess communication and may be better for controllers to coordinate between themselves for this. Sent diversion message via ACARS to dispatch. Briefed flight attendants and made assurance PA to customers. Single engine procedures were briefed if needed but engine was OK in idle and decided to land normally with symmetric thrust on short final and flaps 30. Unfortunately flaps would not extend beyond 25 so used captain's emergency authority to not go around and land with 25. FO did a fine landing - normal descent rate and smooth. Due to high gross weight; landing was fast and brake energy higher than normal. Total time takeoff to landing was 24 minutes. Taxi into gate was normal. Maintenance write ups were made for engine overheat; flaps and overweight landing.
Shortly after takeoff the Right Eng. Overheat light illuminated. I was the pilot flying so I call for the QRH checklist which the Captain accomplished. In accordance with the checklist we reduced power to idle on the Right Eng. Shortly after reducing the power to idle the light went out. We returned for an uneventful overweight landing.
B737 flight crew experiences an engine overheat shortly after takeoff. QRH procedures are complied with and the flight returns to the departure airport with the offending engine at idle until short final. The flaps will not extend beyond 25 degrees but the approach and landing is continued with thrust equalized.