A319 flight crew reported an Auto Throttle Fail ECAM Message during take-off roll. The flight crew rejected the take-off and returned to the gate.
Synopsis
A319 flight crew reported an Auto Throttle Fail ECAM Message during take-off roll. The flight crew rejected the take-off and returned to the gate.
Narrative
Event Aircraft; Nose Number X. The aircraft had several write ups from the previous crew; which were cleared by Maintenance in ZZZ. One of the write ups included an ADR (Air Data Reference) deferral. At the start of the take-off roll on Runway X in ZZZ; the Thrust Levers were placed in the detent. Upon placement; the thrust came up normally and when it reached the target Engine Pressure Ratio (EPR); an AUTO FLT A/THR OFF ECAM was presented. In addition; the Captain's Speed Scale turned completely Red. This all occurred almost simultaneously in the low speed regime around 80 kts. The Captain initiated a rejected take-off. The proper procedure was followed and we came to a stop on the runway. Upon completion of the QRC; we taxied off and the after landing flow was accomplished. While troubleshooting with Maintenance Control; there was a Brakes Hot ECAM; therefore Engine 2 was shut down. A return to gate was accomplished and Dispatch was notified of the rejected take-off. After gate arrival; we deplaned; had a crew debrief; and spoke with a ZZZ Flight Manager; who filled in the Chief Pilot.
Second reporter narrative
The event Aircraft was Nose X. The airplane came in from ZZZ1 and the inbound crew encountered an Auto Flight malfunction of the Auto Thrust on climb out. They were able to get it restored but wrote it up. Maintenance was on the airplane when we got there and were running checks and were unable to find anything so after talking it over with my First Officer; we arrived at the conclusion that we were good to take the plane. We briefed threats that we were facing as part of my departure brief; I even included that we might see and Auto Flight ECAM as I briefed the Rejected Take-off (RTO). I briefed per SOP not only what we reject for relative to speed regime but also what I was going to do accordingly and how we were to act as a crew. Taxi out was uneventful and we were instructed to line up and wait on Runway X. Upon receiving our take-off clearance I asked my First Officer if they were ready and they replied that they were. I advanced the thrust levers to around 1.05 Engine Pressure Ratio (EPR); waited to make sure the engines were stabilized before advancing smoothly to the Detent. I checked my Primary Flight Display (PFD) for my FMA (Flight Mode Annunicator) changes before calling 'Check Thrust.' As I finished the call out; out of the corner of my eye I noticed the entire speed tape on my PFD become a Red Brick momentarily then return. Shortly thereafter as we were accelerating rapidly through in my estimate 70 kts; we got the Chime; Caution Light and ECAM for an Auto Flight Auto Thrust malfunction. As we were in the low speed regime and I had briefed that we would reject for anything below 100 kts; I called the reject and retarded the thrust levers. We were barely above 80 kts. so I only managed to get the thrust levers back to forward idle and the Auto Brakes kicked in decelerating rapidly. I kicked off the brakes and brought us to a stop straight ahead on the runway center line. The First Officer carried out their tasks perfectly and we then jumped into the rejected take-off checklist. After completing that; I called both front and rear galleys to verify that everyone was safe; seated and that we could move the aircraft. With that squared away we taxied clear; contacted the Company and initiated a gate return.
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.