Date: 201204
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Q400
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Takeoff / Launch
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Aircraft component: Turbine Engine
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Physiological - Other
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Due to the warm conditions and heavy flight load; we had elected to takeoff at NTOP power. When climbing through 'acceleration altitude' I notified the Captain of rising oil temperature on the right engine. We notified Center that we would need to level out at 5;000 FT and would get back to them.We then ran the QRH 'Engine Oil Over Temp Checklist;' which called for reducing the power levers 20% from their current position. The engine temperature then spiked to 119C. The Captain further reduced power levers and the oil temperature remained outside of limitations. In the interest of safety; we elected to secure the right engine. Prior to executing the 'engine; fail fire' checklist the Captain notified the flight attendants of the problem; that we would be shutting down the number 2 engine and would be returning to the airport. We then shut down the right engine and I briefed the passengers; advising we would be returning to our departure airport; would be stopping on the runway and would require ground assistance including a tug to tow us to the gate. I finished by asking them to please follow the flight attendants' instructions.We landed without further incident; completed QRC and shutdown checklists and remained on the runway until the passengers were transferred onto a 'people mover'. We did not feel an emergency evacuation was necessary as there was no fire or danger posed after shut down. We opened the R2 and L2 service doors along with the boarding door for ventilation. The flight attendants also provided a water service while Airport Operations arranged their transportation back to the terminal. The entire flight crew did a fantastic job! It's truly disheartening that the Captain and I were the only ones to give praise to our flight attendants. Instead; their Supervisor tried to assign them a flight an hour after this incident. In no way were they emotionally or professionally ready to be assigned further duty following this emergency. Having an inflight engine shutdown is not a common occurrence; however; it is starting to become common place with our airline. I would strongly recommend a detailed review pertinent maintenance policy and procedure.




Synopsis: Following a spike in oil temperature on the right engine a Q-400 flight crew shut it down; declared an emergency and returned to their departure airport. The reporter believes inflight shutdowns at his airline are becoming commonplace and suggested review of maintenance procedures as an ameliorative measure.