An engine failure led to an emergency declaration, and a return to the airport.

Attributes
ACN	296598
Time
Date	199502
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 3500 agl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
ASRS Report	296598
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After takeoff from oak runway 29, approximately 5 mi north of field, and at approximately 3500 ft AGL, we experienced a left engine failure and a corresponding hard jerk to the left. We declared an emergency, completed immediate action emergency procedures, turned downwind, informed flight attendants, passenger, and company of our situation and returned to runway 29 for uneventful landing. Prior to the actual failure, there was no indication of any impending problem. Preliminary postflt inspection revealed what appeared to be a 'hot section meltdown.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ENG FAILURE LED TO AN EMER DECLARATION, AND A RETURN TO THE ARPT.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM OAK RWY 29, APPROX 5 MI N OF FIELD, AND AT APPROX 3500 FT AGL, WE EXPERIENCED A L ENG FAILURE AND A CORRESPONDING HARD JERK TO THE L. WE DECLARED AN EMER, COMPLETED IMMEDIATE ACTION EMER PROCS, TURNED DOWNWIND, INFORMED FLT ATTENDANTS, PAX, AND COMPANY OF OUR SIT AND RETURNED TO RWY 29 FOR UNEVENTFUL LNDG. PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL FAILURE, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY IMPENDING PROB. PRELIMINARY POSTFLT INSPECTION REVEALED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A 'HOT SECTION MELTDOWN.'

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.