Widebody transport loses an engine and unable to maintain altitude, declares an emergency to get exp...

Attributes
ACN	131317
Time
Date	198912
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	131317
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 105 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	131321
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

#4 engine was shut down due to high egt and low oil pressure. ATC (through hnl HF radio) was advised by declaring an emergency and stating we were beginning a descent on our assigned track. We requested FL310 initially and then FL270 and a return to hnl. Clearance was received to descend to FL270 and when reaching, proceed direct to hnl. We proceeded to hnl and completed an uneventful 3-ENGINE landing. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states that he really believes that by declaring an emergency he received much better and more timely handling than had he simply requested a lower altitude and a return to hnl. He also said that his management backs up the pilots 100% in matters like this so that he never hesitates to declare an emergency should he think it necessary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB LOSES AN ENGINE AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT, DECLARES AN EMERGENCY TO GET EXPEDITIOUS HANDLING.

Narrative: #4 ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN DUE TO HIGH EGT AND LOW OIL PRESSURE. ATC (THROUGH HNL HF RADIO) WAS ADVISED BY DECLARING AN EMER AND STATING WE WERE BEGINNING A DSCNT ON OUR ASSIGNED TRACK. WE REQUESTED FL310 INITIALLY AND THEN FL270 AND A RETURN TO HNL. CLRNC WAS RECEIVED TO DSND TO FL270 AND WHEN REACHING, PROCEED DIRECT TO HNL. WE PROCEEDED TO HNL AND COMPLETED AN UNEVENTFUL 3-ENGINE LNDG. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER STATES THAT HE REALLY BELIEVES THAT BY DECLARING AN EMER HE RECEIVED MUCH BETTER AND MORE TIMELY HANDLING THAN HAD HE SIMPLY REQUESTED A LOWER ALT AND A RETURN TO HNL. HE ALSO SAID THAT HIS MGMNT BACKS UP THE PLTS 100% IN MATTERS LIKE THIS SO THAT HE NEVER HESITATES TO DECLARE AN EMER SHOULD HE THINK IT NECESSARY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.

Widebody transport loses an engine and unable to maintain altitude, declares an emergency to get expeditious handling.