A320 flight crew reported a drop in the right engine oil quantity shortly after takeoff; resulting in a return to the departure airport.
Synopsis
A320 flight crew reported a drop in the right engine oil quantity shortly after takeoff; resulting in a return to the departure airport.
Narrative
While operating Aircraft X ZZZ - ZZZ1 we had just departed runway XXR and were climbing out on the ZZZZZ Sid and had been cleared direct ZZZZZ1 with a climb to 16000 ft. Passing 5000 I witnessed the right engine oil qty plummet to 2 qts then bounce between1 - 3 qts. The white title on the engine system page started flashing and the quantity periodically showed amber xx's but hovered around 1 qt. We coordinated with ATC to halt the climb at 6000 ft and to put us in a box pattern so we didn't get too far from the airport in the event engine 2 failed. We coordinated with dispatch on a precautionary return to ZZZ as opposed to continuing 3 hrs to ZZZ1 with the continued indications on Engine 2 and the uncertainty of the oil status. [Priority handling was requested]; ATC was given the necessary information and we prepared the aircraft to return to ZZZ for a landing on runway XYL. The FAs were given all the appropriate briefing information and then passengers were briefed accordingly. As we had no ECAM procedure to follow and there is no QRH procedure for the situation and the engine oil temp was not showing an overheat and had pressure plus still generating thrust we elected to leave it running until instructed to shut it down - engine 2. Additionally as we were slightly over the max landing weight we performed the 'Landing Overweight' QRH checklist. Dispatch provided us with the necessary landing data and we proceeded to land uneventfully on runway XYL the taxied to gate XX without any further incident. Upon arriving at the gate we conferred with Maintenance and entered the appropriate electronic logbook report. Finally we debriefed with a company representative performing the human factors checklist then debriefed as a crew.
Second reporter narrative
On climbout; the captain noticed our oil quantity indicator for the right engine was dropping and beginning to flash as we passed through 5000 MSL on our climb up to 160000 MSL. He immediately requested a level off at 6000 MSL to ATC and a vector to keep us nearby the airport. The oil quantity gauge continued to fluctuate between 0-11 quarts of oil with the remaining indicators showing normal ranges. Uncertain of whether the indicator was accurate or not; we decided the safest course of action was to return to the field in the event the engine failed. I continued to fly the aircraft while the captain coordinated with dispatch and our flight attendants. Once all completing our descent and overweight landing checklists; and ensuring all steps had been completed; we returned to the field and conducted a normal visual approach to XYL for an overweight landing. After completing the landing; and ensuring brake temperatures were within normal parameters; we taxied to the gate without further issues. We then went through our parking procedures and debriefed on the situation with each other.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.