Narrative:

Takeoff was made at 224;000 pounds; flaps 5; and reduced thrust. I was the pilot flying. The weather was VFR with clear skies. The takeoff was normal and we were vectored to a heading of 330. When climbing through approximately 3;000 ft; cleared to 10;000; the left engine surged with a bang. The engine instruments appeared normal at this point. The captain said 'did we hit a bird?' I said; 'I don't think so; I didn't see any birds.' approximately 45 seconds later the left engine began surging. This time the left engine egt was high. I reduced the thrust on the left engine and the egt came down out of the yellow band and the engine stopped surging. I called for the engine limit or surge or stall QRH checklist. The captain told ATC we needed to return to the field and declared an emergency. About this time the cockpit began filling with smoke. We donned our oxygen masks and established communication. The captain said; 'I have the plane.' and asked me to run the checklist. When I was approximately half-way finished with the engine limit or surge or stall QRH; the smoke in the cockpit had cleared and we removed our oxygen masks. I sent an ACARS message to dispatch and requested landing performance numbers for returning to our departure airport. We completed the engine failure or shutdown/secure checklist and shut down the left engine. We received the numbers and the captain briefed the approach. I ran the approach descent checklist and we made an uneventful flaps 20 over weight single engine landing. The weight of the aircraft was 220;000 pounds. The touchdown was smooth and with reverse thrust on the right engine and autobrakes 3; we exited the runway to the left at taxiway victor. Crash fire rescue equipment checked out the engine and advised no fire or smoke. We then received clearance to proceed to our gate where we shut down the right engine and ran the parking checklist.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After experiencing uncontrolled compressor stalls of the left engine shortly after takeoff the flight crew of a B757-200 performed the appropriate checklists; shut down the engine; declared an emergency with ATC and returned to their departure airport where they were met by Maintenance.

Narrative: Takeoff was made at 224;000 LBS; flaps 5; and reduced thrust. I was the pilot flying. The weather was VFR with clear skies. The takeoff was normal and we were vectored to a heading of 330. When climbing through approximately 3;000 FT; cleared to 10;000; the left engine surged with a bang. The engine instruments appeared normal at this point. The Captain said 'Did we hit a bird?' I said; 'I don't think so; I didn't see any birds.' Approximately 45 seconds later the left engine began surging. This time the left engine EGT was high. I reduced the thrust on the left engine and the EGT came down out of the yellow band and the engine stopped surging. I called for the ENGINE LIMIT or SURGE or STALL QRH checklist. The Captain told ATC we needed to return to the field and declared an emergency. About this time the Cockpit began filling with smoke. We donned our oxygen masks and established communication. The Captain said; 'I have the plane.' and asked me to run the checklist. When I was approximately half-way finished with the ENGINE LIMIT or SURGE or STALL QRH; the smoke in the cockpit had cleared and we removed our oxygen masks. I sent an ACARS message to Dispatch and requested landing performance numbers for returning to our departure airport. We completed the Engine Failure or Shutdown/Secure Checklist and shut down the left engine. We received the numbers and the Captain briefed the approach. I ran the Approach Descent Checklist and we made an uneventful flaps 20 over weight single engine landing. The weight of the aircraft was 220;000 LBS. The touchdown was smooth and with reverse thrust on the right engine and autobrakes 3; we exited the runway to the left at Taxiway Victor. CFR checked out the engine and advised no fire or smoke. We then received clearance to proceed to our gate where we shut down the right engine and ran the Parking Checklist.

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.