Narrative:

During climb out, we received an EICAS status message: 'right rev isln val.' the QRH advised that reverse thrust protection may be inoperative and that asymmetrical reverse thrust was possible. We leveled off, slowed down, requested to return to dfw. Landed uneventfully at what we believed was below maximum landing weight. This aircraft had the left thrust reverser placarded already and there had been a previous write-up on the right thrust reverser which had been on a placard for several days. In our opinion, this was a potentially dangerous condition. I believe another air carrier lost a B757 a few days ago due to in-flight thrust reverser deployment. The QRH procedure seems vague and inadequate in this case.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 CREW RETURNED TO THEIR DEP STATION WITH AN EICAS STATUS MESSAGE 'R REV ISLN VAL.' THE L THRUST REVERSER WAS MEL'ED INOP, AND THE R REVERSER HAD CHRONIC PROBS.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT, WE RECEIVED AN EICAS STATUS MESSAGE: 'R REV ISLN VAL.' THE QRH ADVISED THAT REVERSE THRUST PROTECTION MAY BE INOP AND THAT ASYMMETRICAL REVERSE THRUST WAS POSSIBLE. WE LEVELED OFF, SLOWED DOWN, REQUESTED TO RETURN TO DFW. LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AT WHAT WE BELIEVED WAS BELOW MAX LNDG WT. THIS ACFT HAD THE L THRUST REVERSER PLACARDED ALREADY AND THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS WRITE-UP ON THE R THRUST REVERSER WHICH HAD BEEN ON A PLACARD FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IN OUR OPINION, THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I BELIEVE ANOTHER ACR LOST A B757 A FEW DAYS AGO DUE TO INFLT THRUST REVERSER DEPLOYMENT. THE QRH PROC SEEMS VAGUE AND INADEQUATE IN THIS CASE.

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.