Large transport in climb has engine fuel flow and EPR fluctuate in #3 engine, then #1 engine.

Attributes
ACN	247627
Time
Date	199307
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vuh
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	247627
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While climbing out of iah, #3 engine fuel flow and EPR began to fluctuate with a vibration in the air frame. We retarded the throttle. About that time, #1 engine did the same thing. We declared an emergency and returned to iah. Aircraft had a previous write-up of a bird strike, but had flown since maintenance signed off the log. From a human factors standpoint, 2 capts were flying plus a very experienced so (retired air force). Both capts (1 a check airman in the right seat) deferred to each other, assessed the situation with the so's input and all agreed how to resolve the problem. We dumped fuel not only to get down to landing weight, but also T be light enough in case we lost them both. The flight attendants were briefed twice before landing and we made an announcement to the passenger. It was refreshing to see cockpit resource management work in an emergency situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT IN CLB HAS ENG FUEL FLOW AND EPR FLUCTUATE IN #3 ENG, THEN #1 ENG.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING OUT OF IAH, #3 ENG FUEL FLOW AND EPR BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE WITH A VIBRATION IN THE AIR FRAME. WE RETARDED THE THROTTLE. ABOUT THAT TIME, #1 ENG DID THE SAME THING. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO IAH. ACFT HAD A PREVIOUS WRITE-UP OF A BIRD STRIKE, BUT HAD FLOWN SINCE MAINT SIGNED OFF THE LOG. FROM A HUMAN FACTORS STANDPOINT, 2 CAPTS WERE FLYING PLUS A VERY EXPERIENCED SO (RETIRED AIR FORCE). BOTH CAPTS (1 A CHK AIRMAN IN THE R SEAT) DEFERRED TO EACH OTHER, ASSESSED THE SIT WITH THE SO'S INPUT AND ALL AGREED HOW TO RESOLVE THE PROB. WE DUMPED FUEL NOT ONLY TO GET DOWN TO LNDG WT, BUT ALSO T BE LIGHT ENOUGH IN CASE WE LOST THEM BOTH. THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE BRIEFED TWICE BEFORE LNDG AND WE MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PAX. IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE COCKPIT RESOURCE MGMNT WORK IN AN EMER SIT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.