AN EMB 145 AT LEVEL OFF AT FL280 DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO LEFT ENG FAILURE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

Narrative

WE JUST LEVELED OFF AT FL280 WHEN THE LEFT ENG FAILED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS SUGGESTING A PROB WITH #1 ENG. THE LEFT ENG LOST PWR AND THE EICAS DISPLAYED; 'ENG #1 FAIL.' WE PERFORMED THE ENG PRECAUTIONARY SHUTDOWN CHECKLIST; AND ATTEMPTED A RESTART ACCORDING TO THE RESTART INFLT CHECKLIST. THE CAPT HAD DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT; RETRIMMED THE PLANE; AND ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AGAIN. AFTER THE ENG WAS SECURED; I DECLARED AN EMER WITH ZTL; AND WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO CLT AS THIS WAS ONLY 80 MI AND THEY HAVE ALL EVER EQUIP. WE THEN ADVISED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO PREPARE THE CABIN FOR AN EMER LNDG. I ADVISED THE COMPANY ABOUT OUR RETURN. DURING THE DESCENT I BRIEFED THE SINGLE ENG APCH AND LNDG AND SINGLE ENG GAR PROCEDURE. WE PERFORMED ALL NORMAL CHECKLIST FOR DESCENT AND APCH. THE FLT ATTENDANT ADVISED THE CABIN WAS READY JUST BEFORE WE STARTED OUR FINAL DESCENT AND APCH. I ASKED CLT APCH TO HAVE THE CFR VEHICLES READY UPON ARRIVAL. THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL AND WE TAXIED TO THE GATE. THE RPTR STATED THE ENG WAS AN ALLISON AE-7007A AND UP UNTIL IT FAILED ALL ENG INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. THE RPTR SAID ON INSPECTING THE ENG ON THE GND IT WAS FOUND NOTHING WOULD TURN. THE RPTR STATED THE ENG WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR REBUILD.