B737-700 flight crew and Dispatcher reported multiple compressor stalls during climb required and engine shut down. Flight returned to the departure airport and landed normally.
Synopsis
B737-700 flight crew and Dispatcher reported multiple compressor stalls during climb required and engine shut down. Flight returned to the departure airport and landed normally.
Narrative
Climbing through 8000 ft. or so; the number 2 engine experienced two compressor stalls. We leveled off at 10000 ft. and ran the engine limit; surge; stall checklist. No exceedances were observed on any of the engine gauges; just a momentary N1 drop. After running the QRH checklist; the engine was stable. I called the Flight Attendants and asked them if they saw or smelled anything abnormal in the cabin. They responded that everything seemed normal; and nothing seemed out of the ordinary; except for the actual compressor stall. We elected to climb to FL 230 and continue to assess what happened. I was in the process of typing an ACARS message to Dispatch when we were climbing through 15000 ft. The engine experienced another compressor stall at this time; and we immediately advised ATC and requested a return to ZZZ. As we made the turn towards the airport the number two engine EGT spiked into the red and the engine fail icon appeared. We performed the engine fire; severe damage QRC; followed by the QRH. We secured the engine. At this point I made a PA explaining the situation to the passengers and also talked to the Flight Attendants. Sent a quick ACARS message to Dispatch telling them we were single engine and returning to ZZZ. ATC coordinated crash and rescue equipment for Runway XXL. We landed on Runway XXL; had fire and rescue look over the aircraft once on the taxiway to make sure everything was ok outside before proceeding to the gate. PAs were made; keeping passengers informed on what was going on. Taxied to the gate.
Second reporter narrative
On climb out around 8000 ft. we experienced multiple compressor stalls on the #2 engine. We observed significant fluctuations in N1. Did not note any EGT exceedance or engine over speed. Executed QRC items for engine surge; limit or stall. Leveled off at 10000 ft. Captain was the PM so they ran the checklist and then QRH. Upon completion of QRH; all indications were normal; so we decided to continue the climb and continue the flight to ZZZ1. Climbing through 15000 ft. we again experienced compressor stalls. I immediately reduced power and leveled at 16000. We advised ATC and began returning to ZZZ. We again followed the checklists except this time the engine EGT was in the red. We continued following the QRH which led us to shut down the engine. Upon completion of checklists and programming for the approach we exchanged flight controls. We landed on XXL without incident. We taxied off the runway and had the Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) crews inspect the engine. Once they gave us all clear we taxied to the gate and deplaned with no further issues.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.