B737-800 captain reported accidentally shutting down the right engine when pulling the throttles bac...

Narrative:

After level off at FL310; I noticed the airspeed just inside the first red bar on the airspeed indicator. I; the captain; and pilot flying; stated this fact; and simultaneously pulled the throttles back. As I was pulling the throttles back; I had somehow placed my ped (personal electronic device) whereby the right throttle movement knocked the right engine start lever to move up and out of the idle detent approximately 1 ½ inches. While focused on the airspeed indicator; the right engine rolled back; and the engine fail light illuminated. We ran the QRH to restart the engine as we obtained a descent. Restart was accomplished with no other problems; and continued to our destination. This occurred due to my concern with an impending overspeed (which was later determined to have not occurred after maintenance performed a bite check upon arrival at our destination) and a device moving against the right start lever. This experience taught me to take every precaution from this point forward; to ensure all items not specifically related to the operation; to be not only turned off; but be stowed inside kit bag.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 Captain reported accidentally shutting down the right engine when pulling the throttles back and his personal electronic device caused the right engine start lever to move up and out of the idle detent. A successful restart was accomplished using the QRH.

Narrative: After level off at FL310; I noticed the airspeed just inside the first red bar on the airspeed indicator. I; the Captain; and pilot flying; stated this fact; and simultaneously pulled the throttles back. As I was pulling the throttles back; I had somehow placed my PED (Personal Electronic Device) whereby the right throttle movement knocked the right engine start lever to move up and out of the idle detent approximately 1 ½ inches. While focused on the airspeed indicator; the right engine rolled back; and the engine fail light illuminated. We ran the QRH to restart the engine as we obtained a descent. Restart was accomplished with no other problems; and continued to our destination. This occurred due to my concern with an impending overspeed (which was later determined to have not occurred after maintenance performed a bite check upon arrival at our destination) and a device moving against the right start lever. This experience taught me to take every precaution from this point forward; to ensure all items not specifically related to the operation; to be not only turned off; but be stowed inside kit bag.

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	1399550
Time
Date	201611
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Total 22000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

B737-800 captain reported accidentally shutting down the right engine when pulling the throttles back and his personal electronic device caused the right engine start lever to move up and out of the idle detent. A successful restart was accomplished using the QRH.