Narrative:

Flight was first leg of three day sequence; also first time for this captain/first officer pairing. First officer's was pilot flying. Aircraft was dispatched with right forward boost pump inoperative. Boost pump was placarded and turned off per MEL 28-1.a. Right aft boost pump tested normal on ground as did all other main and center pumps. All working main and center pumps were on for engine start taxi takeoff and climb. Approaching level off at FL330 center tank was just about empty and master caution and center fuel pressure low light flickered on and off. At this time the right inlet fuel pressure low light also flickered on and off. Center tank then showed zero lbs with 9;000 pounds in right and left main tanks. Center tanks were turned off and right inlet fuel pressure low light continued to flicker. We checked the right aft pump was on and it was. Just as I opened the QRH to look for the procedure for that light coming on the right engine spooled back to what looked like idle power; made one surge up again and the rolled back below idle. Engine was wind milling and oil pressure was around 20 psi (not perfectly sure of oil pressure throughout but it never went to zero in flight). I immediately contacted ATC and informed them we would be descending due to engine failure; and declared an emergency telling them we would need to return to the departure airport. We were initially cleared to descend to FL240 at my request; and then as we turned back to the airport to 11;000. Ran engine failure in flight checklist; and opened fuel cross feed in accordance with the checklist. I informed the flight attendants that we would be returning single engine but choose not to have them run the full emergency landing checklist due to time limitations. I then made a PA to the passengers and I also contacted dispatch. We reviewed the single engine approach and landing checklist and first officer flew an uneventful approach and landing to a smooth touchdown approximately 1;800 ft down runway. Landed overweight at 131;700 pounds at a descent rate of approximately 100 FPM. Right tank had 9;000 pounds of fuel and left tank had 7;100. Taxied clear of runway and were looked over by emergency vehicles. No problems were seen so we taxied to gate and shutdown.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MD83 right engine flamed out inflight after the FUEL INLET PRESSURE LOW light began flickering.

Narrative: Flight was first leg of three day sequence; also first time for this Captain/First Officer pairing. First Officer's was pilot flying. Aircraft was dispatched with right forward boost pump inoperative. Boost pump was placarded and turned off per MEL 28-1.a. Right aft boost pump tested normal on ground as did all other main and center pumps. All working main and center pumps were on for engine start taxi takeoff and climb. Approaching level off at FL330 center tank was just about empty and master caution and center fuel pressure low light flickered on and off. At this time the right inlet fuel pressure low light also flickered on and off. Center tank then showed zero lbs with 9;000 LBS in right and left main tanks. Center tanks were turned off and right inlet fuel pressure low light continued to flicker. We checked the right aft pump was on and it was. Just as I opened the QRH to look for the procedure for that light coming on the right engine spooled back to what looked like idle power; made one surge up again and the rolled back below idle. Engine was wind milling and oil pressure was around 20 PSI (not perfectly sure of oil pressure throughout but it never went to zero in flight). I immediately contacted ATC and informed them we would be descending due to engine failure; and declared an emergency telling them we would need to return to the departure airport. We were initially cleared to descend to FL240 at my request; and then as we turned back to the airport to 11;000. Ran engine failure in flight checklist; and opened fuel cross feed in accordance with the checklist. I informed the flight attendants that we would be returning single engine but choose not to have them run the full emergency landing checklist due to time limitations. I then made a PA to the passengers and I also contacted Dispatch. We reviewed the single engine approach and landing checklist and First Officer flew an uneventful approach and landing to a smooth touchdown approximately 1;800 FT down runway. Landed overweight at 131;700 LBS at a descent rate of approximately 100 FPM. Right tank had 9;000 LBS of fuel and left tank had 7;100. Taxied clear of runway and were looked over by emergency vehicles. No problems were seen so we taxied to gate and shutdown.

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.