AN A320 DEPARTED A HOT HUMID ARPT AND PRIOR TO LNDG WATER WAS DRIPPING FROM THE STBY COMPASS. AIRSPEED; AUTOPILOT; AUTOTHROTTLE; AND RUDDER TRAVEL LIMITER ECAMS ANNUNCIATED.

2008-05 · NASA ASRS report 788967

Date: 2008-05 · Aircraft: A320 · Phase: descent

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical

Synopsis

AN A320 DEPARTED A HOT HUMID ARPT AND PRIOR TO LNDG WATER WAS DRIPPING FROM THE STBY COMPASS. AIRSPEED; AUTOPILOT; AUTOTHROTTLE; AND RUDDER TRAVEL LIMITER ECAMS ANNUNCIATED.

Narrative

FO PF. CAPT NOTICES CAPT AIRSPD INDICATION GETTING 'SLOW;' APPROX 200 OR LESS. CONFIGN 0 FL SPD SELECTED 210 KIAS. FO AIRSPD AND STANDBY SHOW 210 AS SELECTED. SIMULTANEOUSLY; THROTTLE LOCK ECAM AND AUTOPLT OFF WARNING AND AUTOTHROTTLE OFF CAUTION. THEN RUDDER TRAVEL LIMITER ECAM. CAPT ELECTED NOT TO FOLLOW RUDDER TRAVEL LIMITER ECAM DUE TO CYCLING FAC'S AIRBORNE. FO POINTS OUT THAT FLT DIRECTORS ALSO DISAPPEARED. CAPT COULD NOT REGAIN AUTOTHROTTLE; AUTOPLT OR FLT DIRECTORS. CAPT AIRSPD INDICATIONS CONTINUE TO 'SLOW;' SHOWING APPROX 25 KIAS SLOWER THAN FO AND STANDBY AT TOUCHDOWN. IN DSCNT FO HAD CONDENSATION DRIP ON HIM. AT TOUCHDOWN MORE CONDENSATION CAME OUT NEAR STANDBY COMPASS. INTERMITTENT GS AND LOC; THOUGH IN CLOSE THIS INFO SEEMED RELIABLE. DECLARED EMER AND ASKED FOR VECTORS. LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER HAD NOT HEARD FROM HIS COMPANY ABOUT THIS EVENT'S CAUSE. HE IS GUESSING THAT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER; INCLUDING A VERY LARGE AMOUNT THAT FELL ON THE FO DURING LANDING; THAT WATER IN SOME ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY WAS THE CAUSE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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