Engine failed and returned to departure airport for landing.

Attributes
ACN	294861
Time
Date	199501
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bna
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4900 flight time type : 3200
ASRS Report	294861
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3780 flight time type : 2220
ASRS Report	295182
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We were level at 17000 ft flying from bna to fwa, when the right engine, unexpectedly, failed. The engine was secured, ATC was notified, and the decision made to return to bna. This decision was based on the fact that WX to the north along our route was lower with snow cover, while to the south (toward bna) it was clear and unrestr. I decided bna would be a good choice, additionally, because of its multiple runways, crash fire rescue (emergency) equipment, and because both crew members were familiar with the airport and surrounding area. The remainder of the flight and subsequent landing was uneventful. In retrospect, at the time of the engine failure, I was not aware of our exact location in reference to sdf. It turns out we were closer to this airport than I thought originally, but WX at sdf was lower and more marginal than at bna, which was clear. I think the decision I made was a safe and correct one, but it is always a good idea to monitor your position relative to other airports at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENG FAILED AND RETURNED TO DEP ARPT FOR LNDG.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT 17000 FT FLYING FROM BNA TO FWA, WHEN THE R ENG, UNEXPECTEDLY, FAILED. THE ENG WAS SECURED, ATC WAS NOTIFIED, AND THE DECISION MADE TO RETURN TO BNA. THIS DECISION WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT WX TO THE N ALONG OUR RTE WAS LOWER WITH SNOW COVER, WHILE TO THE S (TOWARD BNA) IT WAS CLR AND UNRESTR. I DECIDED BNA WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE, ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE OF ITS MULTIPLE RWYS, CRASH FIRE RESCUE (EMER) EQUIP, AND BECAUSE BOTH CREW MEMBERS WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT AND SURROUNDING AREA. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT AND SUBSEQUENT LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. IN RETROSPECT, AT THE TIME OF THE ENG FAILURE, I WAS NOT AWARE OF OUR EXACT LOCATION IN REF TO SDF. IT TURNS OUT WE WERE CLOSER TO THIS ARPT THAN I THOUGHT ORIGINALLY, BUT WX AT SDF WAS LOWER AND MORE MARGINAL THAN AT BNA, WHICH WAS CLR. I THINK THE DECISION I MADE WAS A SAFE AND CORRECT ONE, BUT IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO MONITOR YOUR POS RELATIVE TO OTHER ARPTS AT ALL TIMES.

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.