A B757 engine oil pump apparently failed during climb out when EICAS alerted left engine oil press a...

Narrative:

After departing while climbing through 10;000 feet we got indications of low oil pressure on the left engine. The indications included low oil pressure on the engine indicating system; an engine oil pressure low EICAS message; and the low oil pressure light. We ran the checklist for engine oil pressure low and based on the indications we had it directed us to shut down the engine. The engine was subsequently shut down using the engine shutdown in flight checklist. Just prior to shutdown the engine began to bang and stall due to depletion of oil. Flight attendants indicated the noise was very loud in the back of the aircraft. I believe that the engine would have sustained severe damage or seizure had we not shut it down when we did. We returned to the departure airport and performed a single engine landing. The landing was overweight at a gross weight of approximately 205;000 lbs. Taxi to the gate was uneventful. Mechanics indicated they suspected the engine driven oil pump had failed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 engine oil pump apparently failed during climb out when EICAS alerted L ENG OIL PRESS and the L ENGINE OIL PRESS illuminated so the QRH directed an engine shutdown just as the engine began to fail mechanically.

Narrative: After departing while climbing through 10;000 feet we got indications of low oil pressure on the left engine. The indications included low oil pressure on the engine indicating system; an engine oil pressure low EICAS message; and the low oil pressure light. We ran the checklist for engine oil pressure low and based on the indications we had it directed us to shut down the engine. The engine was subsequently shut down using the engine shutdown in flight checklist. Just prior to shutdown the engine began to bang and stall due to depletion of oil. Flight attendants indicated the noise was very loud in the back of the aircraft. I believe that the engine would have sustained severe damage or seizure had we not shut it down when we did. We returned to the departure airport and performed a single engine landing. The landing was overweight at a gross weight of approximately 205;000 lbs. Taxi to the gate was uneventful. Mechanics indicated they suspected the engine driven oil pump had failed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1061915
Time
Date	201301
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Oil Pump
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 5000
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 235 Flight Crew Total 21000 Flight Crew Type 12000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

A B757 engine oil pump apparently failed during climb out when EICAS alerted left engine oil press and the left engine oil press illuminated so the QRH directed an engine shutdown just as the engine began to fail mechanically.