A320 FLT CREW EXPERIENCES LOUD BOOMS DURING CLIMB AT 7500 FEET AND ELECTS TO RETURN.
Synopsis
A320 FLT CREW EXPERIENCES LOUD BOOMS DURING CLIMB AT 7500 FEET AND ELECTS TO RETURN.
Narrative
CLBING OUT IN EXCELLENT VFR CONDITIONS; THROUGH 7500 FT; WE HEARD 2 LOUD BOOMS; IN SUCCESSION; COME FROM THE #1 ENG. FO SAW MOMENTARY FLICKER OF THE ENG INSTS BUT ALL PARAMETERS REMAINED NORMAL. I REDUCED THRUST TO IDLE AND ASKED FOR ECAM ACTION. THERE WAS NOTHING ON ECAM. (LATER THE POSTFLT ECAM SHOWED #1 FADEC; BUT WE NEVER SAW IT.) WE ASSUMED WE HAD A COMPRESSOR STALL AND I DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE DEP ARPT. SINCE ALL PARAMETERS WERE NORMAL; I DECIDED TO KEEP THE #1 ENG RUNNING; FOR HYDS AND TO HAVE IT IF I NEEDED IT. I DID CHK THE RESPONSE TO MOVING THE THRUST LEVER 1/2 WAY UP TO THE CLB DETENT AND THE ENG DID RESPOND NORMALLY. WE MADE AN APCH USING FLAPS 3 DEGS; TREATING IT AS IF THE #1 ENG WAS SHUT DOWN; BUT KEPT IT AT IDLE UNTIL AFTER WE LANDED. APCH; LNDG; AND TAXI IN WERE ALL NORMAL. BOTH PLTS HEARD A LOUD 'BOOM; BOOM.' THE FO NOTICED A MOMENTARY FLICKER OF THE #1 ENG INSTS. FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX ALSO HEARD THE SAME THING. PAX LOCATED ON THE L SIDE AT ROW 22 OBSERVED FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. OPERATED ENG AT IDLE SINCE ALL PARAMETERS WERE NORMAL AND NO ECAM WARNINGS WERE PRESENT. LANDED SAFELY UTILIZING SINGLE ENG (FLAPS 3 DEGS) PROCS; EVEN THOUGH #1 WAS AT IDLE. CALLED COMPANY OPS AND MAINT. TAXIED IN TO THE GATE NORMALLY. ENGS AND THEIR COMPONENTS DO FAIL. I AM SURE WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF RELIABILITY.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.