An A320 Captain reports a situation where his company's Maintenance put an A320 back into service after nothing more than a reset of the ELAC Computer after he returned to the gate for another ELAC-1 failure. The aircraft had just spent two days in the hangar for a previous Aileron fault.
Synopsis
An A320 Captain reports a situation where his company's Maintenance put an A320 back into service after nothing more than a reset of the ELAC Computer after he returned to the gate for another ELAC-1 failure. The aircraft had just spent two days in the hangar for a previous Aileron fault.
Narrative
This jet spent 2 days at the hangar while Maintenance attempted to find the problem causing an Aileron fault. They ultimately replaced the Aileron Servo; ELAC-1 and both side stick transducers. After both engines started and after the flight control check; we taxied. During taxi; ELAC-1 failed again. We went to the box (holding area); conferred with Dispatch and Maintenance Control and returned to the gate. Maintenance did all they could; meaning they checked the Computers; reset the ELAC and ran a CAT III test. All worked fine. Because of the history of the ELAC and Aileron issue; I was going to refuse the airplane and I told the Maintenance Supervisor that. Here's the thing...the idea that this anomaly was NOT related to the previous problems is statistically almost impossible. I've flown the Airbus for 5 years; and I think this is the second ELAC failure I've ever experienced; the other one was during a power transfer. To me; I find it disturbing that the company put the A320 back into service after nothing more than a computer reset. As I mentioned before; it is almost impossible that this problem is not related to the previous problem; yet we ignore the big picture (the history of this problem) with a; 'well it checks OK now attitude.'
NASA callback
Reporter stated the resetting of ELAC Computers; Flight Control Computers and Circuit Breakers as a standard sign-off for many systems that have repeated faults has become very disturbing. Reporter stated most pilots don't have time; or just don't go back into the logbook history when reviewing previous squawks that reoccur. Reporter stated funny things happen when an ELAC fails in flight; especially; as he has experienced in a previous situation; where he had a dual ELAC failure. The plane doesn't go out of control; because the aircraft will go to Alternate Law and Direct Law just before landing; but the A320 becomes a little more difficult to fly and land.Reporter stated that company Mechanics at his Base Station told him that on one A320 aircraft alone; they changed the ELAC boxes four times (4X) from Stores Parts; before finding one 'good' ELAC that would pass the system's operational tests; even though they all came off the shelf with Serviceable tags. Mechanics believe the outsourcing of Electronic Boxes are contributing to the ELAC problem.
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.