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B737-800 flight crew experienced an engine driven generator rapidly cycling on and off at FL320 causing the autopilot and autothrottles to disengage in addition to other electrical anomalies. Once the offending generator is turned off and the APU is started; all electrical systems are fully powered. The crew elects to return to departure airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 975504 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201110 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.ARTCC |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Flying |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
While level at FL320; the electrical system began to cycle rapidly. Simultaneously; the yaw damper; auto pilot and auto throttles disconnected. The captain took the controls and directed me to the checklist. The aircraft climbed 300 ft before the captain could respond with the controls. We were temporarily no comm until we fixed the electrical problems. At that point; we declared an emergency and returned to departure airport.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737-800 flight crew experienced an engine driven generator rapidly cycling on and off at FL320 causing the autopilot and autothrottles to disengage in addition to other electrical anomalies. Once the offending generator is turned off and the APU is started; all electrical systems are fully powered. The crew elects to return to departure airport.
Narrative: While level at FL320; the electrical system began to cycle rapidly. Simultaneously; the yaw damper; auto pilot and auto throttles disconnected. The Captain took the controls and directed me to the checklist. The aircraft climbed 300 ft before the captain could respond with the controls. We were temporarily no comm until we fixed the electrical problems. At that point; we declared an emergency and returned to departure airport.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.