B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
A B757 en route had an uncontrollable engine overspeed/shutdown and diversion at Flight Level 360. I had an OE student. We had augmented crew with two other pilots. They were in the back on rest break. The First Officer was the pilot flying on this leg. The right engine surged and accelerated to a runaway condition. The N1 was approximately 111% and the EGT was at the red line. The aircraft began to accelerate reaching approximately 0.84 Mach while we diagnosed the event. I took control of the aircraft; disconnected the autothrottles and retarded the right engine to idle in an attempt to control the runaway. I also retarded the left engine to almost idle to slow the aircraft. The EPR appeared to retard a small amount however the N1 was still over 110% and the other engine parameters were in an overspeed/over boost condition. Concerned with the possibility of explosive damage I told the First Officer that I was shutting the engine down immediately which I did. I indicated to him that I was executing the 'unable to maintain altitude maneuver' which I did and I asked him to broadcast a 'PAN; PAN; PAN' on 121.5. Several company aircraft took information in order to notify Dispatch immediately of our diversion. We declared an emergency with Oceanic Radio. I did a 15 mile off track right and descended to FL275. We called for the additional crew members to come forward which they did and I began to employ them in communications tasks with briefing the flight attendants on the situation; making several PA's to the passengers as well as getting a phone patch to Dispatch. We requested a clearance to an airport which was our nearest planned en route alternate and after descending and leveling at FL270 we cleared direct. During this time we completed the QRH items for the engine shutdown. We flew approximately 590 NM single engine overwater to our divert airport where we flew an ILS in VFR (2;000 scattered) conditions. We had requested equipment as a precaution. We taxied to the gate and passengers were taken inside the terminal and given meal vouchers. An aircraft was flown in to pick up the crew and passengers and we were flown to the departure airport. The flight attendants prepared the cabin professionally and expertly. The entire crew worked and coordinated their efforts extremely well during this event and while it is certainly not a routine event; it played out as a 'non-event'. It speaks volumes to the quality of our personnel and of our training.
A B757 engine oversped at FL360 on an oceanic route so an emergency was declared; the Oceanic Off Track Procedures complied with and the flight diverted to a foreign airport.