B777-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Human Factors
Climbing through FL230; we experienced two compressor stalls on the left engine; the left EGT gauge displayed amber and a vibration presented. As we began the Engine Severe Damage checklist; the flight deck filled with smoke. The checklist was interrupted in order to don oxygen masks and goggles. This is where the problem occurred and is the reason for this report.The mask/goggle setup consists of two separate pieces. In order to don both; the mask needs to be applied; a vent on the mask opened; the flow switched to EMERG. The goggles must then be located; removed from their pouch and then donned in such a way as to position them over the vent on the mask. This procedure is awkward and time consuming. We were forced to divert our attention from dealing with a developing emergency in order to ensure the safety equipment was correctly fitted. This created a significant distraction in an already fluid and busy situation. A one-piece; full face mask/goggle system would have allowed us to concentrate on actually dealing with the true emergency rather than having to deal with the proper fitting of the gear.
B777 First Officer experienced compressor stalls climbing through FL230 that resulted in high EGT and vibration; along with smoke in the cockpit. The reporter was most concerned with the difficulty encountered donning the separate oxygen mask and smoke goggles. The engine was shut down and the flight returned to the departure airport.