B737 flight crew reports loss of all number information on their pfd's and nd's along with MCP failu...

Narrative:

During climbout at approximately 5;000 feet ATC queried us to reset our transponder. I reset the transponder and at that time the captain's display units started to fail. Next the first officer's display units started to fail. The captain continued to fly as I got out the QRH. Passing through 13;000 feet we asked ATC to level off so we could evaluate the situation. I read the QRH checklist to determine which checklist applied. I looked at the display failure checklist first and that did not seem to apply. I next checked the displays control panel checklist and then the display source checklist and neither seemed to apply. There were no yellow or red lights on the overhead panel; glare shield or instrument panel that would give an indication of which checklist to use. The captain declared an emergency and we received vectors back. The captain was flying with his standby instruments. We had no airspeed; altitude; autopilot; or FMA on our primary display. Speed and altitude and TCAS fail were displayed on the pfd. In addition; the MCP was not working; none of the buttons were lit; and we could not select VNAV; LNAV or heading select. The autopilots would not engage. Further; there did not appear to be any circuit breakers popped. I briefed the flight attendants that we had a system failure and we would be returning and to prepare the cabin for a normal landing. I then briefed the passengers that we had a system failure and would be returning for a normal landing. ATC continued to give us vectors to return to the airport and I began to program the FMC for the approach and tune the radios. We were in and out of IMC conditions; finally we were able to see the field and we were cleared for a visual approach. During the approach some of the first officer instruments returned. The captain made a normal approach and landing using his standby instruments.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reports loss of all number information on their PFD's and ND's along with MCP failure during initial climb. An emergency is declared and the flight returns to the departure airport.

Narrative: During climbout at approximately 5;000 feet ATC queried us to reset our transponder. I reset the transponder and at that time the Captain's display units started to fail. Next the First Officer's display units started to fail. The Captain continued to fly as I got out the QRH. Passing through 13;000 feet we asked ATC to level off so we could evaluate the situation. I read the QRH checklist to determine which checklist applied. I looked at the Display Failure Checklist first and that did not seem to apply. I next checked the Displays Control Panel Checklist and then the Display Source Checklist and neither seemed to apply. There were no yellow or red lights on the overhead panel; glare shield or instrument panel that would give an indication of which checklist to use. The Captain declared an emergency and we received vectors back. The Captain was flying with his standby instruments. We had no airspeed; altitude; autopilot; or FMA on our primary display. SPD and ALT and TCAS fail were displayed on the PFD. In addition; the MCP was not working; none of the buttons were lit; and we could not select VNAV; LNAV or heading select. The autopilots would not engage. Further; there did not appear to be any circuit breakers popped. I briefed the flight attendants that we had a system failure and we would be returning and to prepare the cabin for a normal landing. I then briefed the passengers that we had a system failure and would be returning for a normal landing. ATC continued to give us vectors to return to the airport and I began to program the FMC for the approach and tune the radios. We were in and out of IMC conditions; finally we were able to see the field and we were cleared for a visual approach. During the approach some of the First Officer instruments returned. The Captain made a normal approach and landing using his standby instruments.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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	1187954
Time
Date	201407
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	MCP
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 226
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 179 Flight Crew Total 20700 Flight Crew Type 10500
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

B737 flight crew reports loss of all number information on their pfd's and nd's along with MCP failure during initial climb. An emergency is declared and the flight returns to the departure airport.