B737 flight crew experienced REV light in-flight and complied with QRH procedures. During descent the engine shuddered with an associated N1 rollback. The engine was subsequently shut down and an emergency declared.
Synopsis
B737 flight crew experienced REV light in-flight and complied with QRH procedures. During descent the engine shuddered with an associated N1 rollback. The engine was subsequently shut down and an emergency declared.
Narrative
In flight we had an intermittent REV alert over the left engine N1 gauge and a small N1 fluctuation for a couple of seconds. The QRH reverser unlocked checklist was accomplished. Thrust levers responded normally; no yaw or shudders; and all engine parameters were normal. On descent into ZZZ; as thrust was reduced out of about 14;000 feet we experienced a significant shudder; pop and large loss of engine power. The REV alert was illuminated. We shut down the engine as stated in the QRH Reverser Unlocked checklist. An emergency was declared and we were told to fly direct to the airport. The QRH Engine Failure/Shutdown checklist and One Engine Inoperative checklists were accomplished. Performance numbers were checked. I had an uneventful single engine landing. I did the best I could and used the most applicable QRH checklist for the alerts we were getting. We were not sure if this was an engine power problem or a reverser problem. Shutting down the engine was definitely the safest option if the reverser was deploying in any way. I would handle things basically the same way if I faced this same situation again.
Second reporter narrative
Upon descent to ZZZ; we had an intermittent REV light over the N1 gauge; and as we passed through 13;000 feet on the STAR; we had a significant shudder and N1 rollback similar to an engine failure. We then followed the checklist and decided to shut down the #1 engine to avoid any damage with possible reverser deployment. We declared an emergency and requested priority. We proceeded to the airport and landed uneventfully single engine.
NASA callback
The reverser did not deploy in-flight but maintenance did find problems with the EEC on that engine; which may have caused the problems that ultimately resulted in engine shut down.
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.