B727-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
During cruise flight enroute; we heard and felt a vibration in the number two throttle lever with associated airframe vibration. In accordance with the QRH; we reduced the number two throttle to idle. Shortly after reaching idle; the engine did an uncommanded acceleration to 92% N2 RPM and remained there. All engine parameters remained within limits.We declared an emergency and; based on an ATC weather report of heavy rain and low ceilings with moderate turbulence below 8;000 in the immediate area; elected to return to our departure airport where the weather was VFR. We shutdown the Number Two Engine prior to landing. Oil pressure was normal prior to shutdown and windmilling oil pressure was observed after shutdown. We conducted a visual approach to a one engine inoperative landing and taxied to the gate. Post flight inspection of Number Two Engine showed severe damage to several stator blades.
A B727-200 flight crew shut down their Number Two Engine due to vibration and returned to their departure airport. Maintenance discovered significant damage to the engine's stator vanes.