B737 crew reports engine flameout at FL390 and subsequent restart.

Attributes
ACN	707864
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sav.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain Turbulence
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 184
ASRS Report	707864
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Weather
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

En route to rdu we began to show green returns on our radar and asked for ride reports. ZJX said they had reports of light chop only; so we continued on course. As we began to get light chop the captain selected the engine ignition to continuous. As we continued the turbulence turned to moderate and the captain selected the engine ignition to flight and I requested a climb to FL410. As the captain began to climb he stated that the #1 engine flamed out. I asked for a lower altitude and we were cleared down. I ran the engine failure/shutdown checklist and the engine restart checklist and got the engine running again. After careful review of the WX behind; below; and ahead we felt it was best to continue north towards rdu. When we felt comfortable with the WX to descend; rdu was as close as any other airport to land so we continued to rdu and made a normal landing. Selection of engine anti-ice may have prevented the engine flame-out even though the outside air temperature was -54 degrees C. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the aircraft was near sav when the flameout occurred and after the engine was restarted the decision was made to continue to rdu; now 150 NM ahead; due to better WX ahead. Maintenance at rdu found faults with the fuel control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW RPTS ENG FLAMEOUT AT FL390 AND SUBSEQUENT RESTART.

Narrative: ENRTE TO RDU WE BEGAN TO SHOW GREEN RETURNS ON OUR RADAR AND ASKED FOR RIDE RPTS. ZJX SAID THEY HAD RPTS OF LIGHT CHOP ONLY; SO WE CONTINUED ON COURSE. AS WE BEGAN TO GET LIGHT CHOP THE CAPT SELECTED THE ENG IGNITION TO CONTINUOUS. AS WE CONTINUED THE TURB TURNED TO MODERATE AND THE CAPT SELECTED THE ENG IGNITION TO FLT AND I REQUESTED A CLB TO FL410. AS THE CAPT BEGAN TO CLB HE STATED THAT THE #1 ENG FLAMED OUT. I ASKED FOR A LOWER ALT AND WE WERE CLRED DOWN. I RAN THE ENG FAILURE/SHUTDOWN CHKLIST AND THE ENG RESTART CHKLIST AND GOT THE ENG RUNNING AGAIN. AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW OF THE WX BEHIND; BELOW; AND AHEAD WE FELT IT WAS BEST TO CONTINUE N TOWARDS RDU. WHEN WE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE WX TO DSND; RDU WAS AS CLOSE AS ANY OTHER ARPT TO LAND SO WE CONTINUED TO RDU AND MADE A NORMAL LNDG. SELECTION OF ENG ANTI-ICE MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE ENG FLAME-OUT EVEN THOUGH THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS -54 DEGS C. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE ACFT WAS NEAR SAV WHEN THE FLAMEOUT OCCURRED AND AFTER THE ENG WAS RESTARTED THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CONTINUE TO RDU; NOW 150 NM AHEAD; DUE TO BETTER WX AHEAD. MAINT AT RDU FOUND FAULTS WITH THE FUEL CTL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.