B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
We were in cruise at FL380 and got a L ENG OVHT EICAS indication; Master Caution lights and the associated L ENG OVHT discrete light on the center pedestal. QRH procedures were followed for the L ENG OVHT; which then led us to the Engine Shutdown checklist since the overheat indication didn't go out. This had been a previous write-up; but had been signed off and all the indications were that it was an actual malfunction. I was pilot flying and the First Officer worked QRH procedures.We declared an emergency; descended using driftdown procedures to FL280 and contacted Center for the nearest suitable diversion airport. The First Officer then contacted dispatch to ask where they wanted the aircraft. Operations suggested an airport that was an extra 120 NM behind us; so we nixed that idea. Their next choice was suitable; so that's where we told Center we would like to go. Given our position and the prevailing winds I asked Center to coordinate an ILS 33R with Approach Control; which they did. ATC did an excellent job coordinating our arrival and accommodating all of our requests. The hand off to Approach; Tower and our subsequent landing were all uneventful. The first officer did a great job with all procedures and was an excellent back-up during the entire event. Post flight inspection by maintenance revealed a faulty computer controller on the detection system that caused an erroneous overheat indication.
A B757-200 diverted to a suitable airport after shutting down the left engine due to what turned out to be a false overheat warning.