2010-01 · NASA ASRS report 867940
A320 flight crew experiences inappropriate thrust addition by Auto Thrust during visual approach. The aircraft was in managed speed with the bug at 131 knots with the current speed well above that when the thrust increased. Auto Thrust was disengaged and thrust controlled manually to a normal landing.
We were conducting a Visual Approach to Runway 01. I was the First Officer and the pilot flying. We were at approximately 1800 feet and at 180 KIAS; flaps 1; with the autothrottles engaged. The autothrottles were in 'SPEED' mode and speed bug was in managed speed with the Vapp speed at about 132 KIAS; and the engines at idle as we descended. I called for gear down; and while the gear was in transit; the thrust increased slightly and then returned to idle. A second or so later the thrust began to gradually increase and accelerated the aircraft from approximately 175 KIAS to 190 KIAS. The thrust and airspeed continued to increase; and it became apparent that I would have to disconnect the autothrottles to avoid overspeeding the flaps; which is what I did. No parameters were exceeded and at all times the speed bug remained at Vapp with the autothrottles in 'SPEED' mode. The autothrottles remained disconnected for the remainder of the flight; and we finished configuring the aircraft and completed the approach and landing uneventfully. After gate arrival the Captain entered the autothrottle discrepancy in the Flight Deck Maintenance Log.
Cleared for Visual Approach to Runway 01; AP off; Both FDs off; Approach mode had been activated and confirmed. On profile at approx 180 knots. Selected managed speed upon command of First Officer (pilot flying). Airspeed bug changed to magenta and drove to 131 knots. This was off scale low so we got a 131 at bottom of airspeed scale (Vapp on FMC was 129). Extended gear on First Officer's command. Thrust started to increase slowly for 1 or 2 seconds; then rapidly. I was Pilot Monitoring; so I checked FMA-We were in speed mode with magenta 131 airspeed bug. First Officer disconnected Autothrust to prevent Flap overspeed and used manual thrust to an uneventful landing. First Officer and I have been on the Airbus for many years and had never seen this happen before and could not explain why this happened.It has been our experience and common knowledge on the line that as our aircraft age; it seems some aircraft don't do as good a job at holding airspeed as they used to; both in autothrust speed mode and autopilot pitch mode. I can only assume this was a mechanical malfunction.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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