Date: 201603
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: SLC.Airport, UT
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class B SLC
ATC / advisory: Tower SLC
Aircraft component: Flap Control (Trailing & Leading Edge)
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer
Human factors: Other / Unknown
Second reporter function: Captain
Anomaly: Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We had a normal push then the After Start Flow onto the Before Taxi Checklist. I vividly remember waiting for the Leading Edge Transit light to extinguish before the Captain called for the Before Taxi Checklist.  We taxied to the Runway uneventfully; we did get rushed on the Before Takeoff Checklist as we waited an unusual amount of time for the flight attendants to complete their announcement while we had been cleared for takeoff. Takeoff roll was uneventful but unusually bumpy. I remember holding onto the glare shield at one point to stop the vibration. After a normal rotation; I noticed a flock of birds approaching. I leaned forward and may have quickly propped myself up using the flap lever for a better view of what might be an impending bird strike; it ended up being a non-event. I then noticed a buffer message on the FMC as well as airspeed warning on the Primary Flight Display (PFD). I simultaneously pushed the power up while telling the Captain; 'You better push it over a little; something isn't right.' He did exactly that; while my eyes caught the flap gauge at zero. I selected flaps 1 immediately and the warnings went away as we climbed out normally. We never received a shaker or pusher. The flight continued normally.As you can imagine; we were bewildered with the situation. We initially thought we had forgotten to set the flaps. I then reminded him that the throttle bursts and takeoff configuration warning gave us no indication of that. We tested the takeoff configuration warning system upon landing...it was normal. I assume a mechanical/electrical error was not to blame.


Second narrative: Taxi out in SLC was uneventful to Runway 34R. All checklists and procedures were completely normal; specifically after start; before taxi and before takeoff. No aircraft preceded us on departure to the runway; therefore our time from taxi out to departure was rather short; though not rushed.As we approached the departure end; we were cleared for takeoff by ATC; I immediately pushed the Attend Call button; awaited their PA and did a throttle burst expecting a simultaneous PA. The 'cleared for takeoff' PA took a bit longer than normal so I did another thrust lever check after hearing the PA and called for the Before Takeoff Checklist; which was completed normally.Takeoff roll; rotation; and climbout were normal until approximately 500' when the initial LNAV turn was required to the SAPEE fix; and I realized I had missed the Flight Director switches; therefore no turn guidance was available. Just prior; we had flown through some birds directly in our departure path which had absolutely disrupted our departure flow.Simultaneously; the F/O (PM) brought to my attention the buffet alert on the FMC and I simultaneously noticed the amber minimum speed bar on the PFD. I immediately reduced pitch; increased thrust and the F/O placed the flaps into the flaps one gate. The remainder of the cleanup; climb out; cruise; arrival and landing were uneventful.We replayed the sequence of events several times; and determined; somehow; the flaps were raised unintentionally due to our distraction by the Flight Directors not indicating when expected; and encountering birds right after takeoff.[I would suggest] slowing down the pace during such a critical phase of flight; and not allowing either Crew Member to be distracted from flying the aircraft.


Synopsis: A B737 flight crew became distracted by a bird flock during takeoff roll. The flap handle may have been used to prop up the First Officer for better view resulting in movement of handle to flaps up.