Pilot reported engine vibration during final climb to cruise altitude. Flight crew reduced power until vibration stopped and continued to destination airport.

Date: 2022-12 · Aircraft: B737-800 · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical

Synopsis

Pilot reported engine vibration during final climb to cruise altitude. Flight crew reduced power until vibration stopped and continued to destination airport.

Narrative

I was pilot flying. We climbed to FL330 and leveled off for 10 minutes. We were then given a clearance to climb to FL350. Shortly after leveling off; we noticed airframe buffeting. We then noticed that the Number 2 Engine was at around 65% N1 and the white trend line was at the climb limit. The the auto-throttles disconnected. The no. 1 engine was at 95%. I moved the Number 2 throttle forward and aft; but could not get the motor to accelerate past 65% N1. The buffeting continued; all other engine indications were normal. We decided to run the Engine Limit/Surge/Stall checklist and ask for lower. When the power setting was reduced to 57% N1; the vibration stopped and the engine ran normally. We completed the checklist. At this point we were around 300 miles from ZZZ; or about 50 minutes from touchdown. We decided to continue on and [request priority handling]. We anticipated a normal landing but decided to treat it as a single engine landing and request Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting meet us upon landing. We ran the One Engine Inoperative Landing Checklist and the Non-Routine Landing Checklist. We landed normally and taxied to the gate after being examined by the Fire Chief.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.