Narrative:

At FL310, climbing to FL330, an amber X appeared on the left oil pressure indication. Shortly thereafter, the indication reappeared, showing 0 psi along with 'left oil pressure low' alert. Then the X reappeared, before switching back to reading 0 psi. We followed the first QRH step, throttle idle, while notifying ATC of a descent to FL290. At this time, all other engine indications were 100% normal, including 12 quarts of oil, and oil temperature normal. Before accomplishing the next step, engine shutdown, because we suspected a bad indication, with my concurrence the captain contacted maintenance control. Maintenance control concurred with our suspicion of a bad indication and advised us to continue to atl. As I, the first officer and PF, began to advance the left engine throttle, while carefully monitoring all engine indications, the captain advised ATC that everything was fine. We began a climb to FL330. With the power almost fully restored, we heard several loud bangs, along with puffs of smoke in the cockpit. With the QRH still open, the ca accomplished the next step, fuel control switch off, then he asked for immediate descent and vector to mco. The captain also answered a call from the lead flight attendant, informing the captain of smoke in the cabin, but dissipating. The captain gave the flight attendant a brief message, then accomplished the engine shutdown checklist. During the accomplishment of that checklist, the captain declared an emergency, with sob and fob. He then called the cabin, confirmed the smoke had stopped, and repeated a test to clarify the situation. The captain then took control of the aircraft about 15-18 NM from mco. The ILS runway 17 was uneventful, as well as the landing. Crash fire rescue equipment inspected the engine, then we taxied to the gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B717 FLT CREW HAS ENG MALFUNCTION, SECURES ENG AND DIVERTS TO MCO.

Narrative: AT FL310, CLBING TO FL330, AN AMBER X APPEARED ON THE L OIL PRESSURE INDICATION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE INDICATION REAPPEARED, SHOWING 0 PSI ALONG WITH 'L OIL PRESSURE LOW' ALERT. THEN THE X REAPPEARED, BEFORE SWITCHING BACK TO READING 0 PSI. WE FOLLOWED THE FIRST QRH STEP, THROTTLE IDLE, WHILE NOTIFYING ATC OF A DSCNT TO FL290. AT THIS TIME, ALL OTHER ENG INDICATIONS WERE 100% NORMAL, INCLUDING 12 QUARTS OF OIL, AND OIL TEMP NORMAL. BEFORE ACCOMPLISHING THE NEXT STEP, ENG SHUTDOWN, BECAUSE WE SUSPECTED A BAD INDICATION, WITH MY CONCURRENCE THE CAPT CONTACTED MAINT CTL. MAINT CTL CONCURRED WITH OUR SUSPICION OF A BAD INDICATION AND ADVISED US TO CONTINUE TO ATL. AS I, THE FO AND PF, BEGAN TO ADVANCE THE L ENG THROTTLE, WHILE CAREFULLY MONITORING ALL ENG INDICATIONS, THE CAPT ADVISED ATC THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WE BEGAN A CLB TO FL330. WITH THE PWR ALMOST FULLY RESTORED, WE HEARD SEVERAL LOUD BANGS, ALONG WITH PUFFS OF SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. WITH THE QRH STILL OPEN, THE CA ACCOMPLISHED THE NEXT STEP, FUEL CTL SWITCH OFF, THEN HE ASKED FOR IMMEDIATE DSCNT AND VECTOR TO MCO. THE CAPT ALSO ANSWERED A CALL FROM THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT, INFORMING THE CAPT OF SMOKE IN THE CABIN, BUT DISSIPATING. THE CAPT GAVE THE FLT ATTENDANT A BRIEF MESSAGE, THEN ACCOMPLISHED THE ENG SHUTDOWN CHKLIST. DURING THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THAT CHKLIST, THE CAPT DECLARED AN EMER, WITH SOB AND FOB. HE THEN CALLED THE CABIN, CONFIRMED THE SMOKE HAD STOPPED, AND REPEATED A TEST TO CLARIFY THE SIT. THE CAPT THEN TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT ABOUT 15-18 NM FROM MCO. THE ILS RWY 17 WAS UNEVENTFUL, AS WELL AS THE LNDG. CFR INSPECTED THE ENG, THEN WE TAXIED TO THE GATE.

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.