2010-03 · NASA ASRS report 878591
An A300 Flight Crew reported multiple ECAM faults on climbout; eventually annunciating a Main Cargo Deck Loop Fault. The procedure called for landing ASAP; so an emergency was declared and they returned to departure airport.
While on climb out; passing through 15;000 MSL; we received several momentary ECAM faults. It would come on then go off after a few seconds. At one point the ECAM did show a steady Main Deck Cargo Loop Fault. The Captain indicated that he would run the appropriate checklist; and I as the Pilot Flying concentrated on flying the aircraft and backing up on radio calls; as the frequency was very busy and we were approaching the transition altitude. While he was running the checklist; I could hear the chime and see that the ECAM warning was resetting itself; making it difficult in completing the checklist. This happened several times. I tried to divide my attention to flying the aircraft and following along with the checklist. After watching the Captain secure the switches that were defined by the ECAM we received a Land ASAP message. With the terrain we had in front of us; and not being certain of our situation with the loop fault we made the decision to return to our [departure airport]. While descending back I became the Non-Flying pilot; called Operations; [told them] that we were returning; and the Captain became the Flying Pilot. A normal approach and landing was performed. Once in the blocks we left the aircraft configured so that Maintenance could see exactly what we had. The appropriate write up was then made in the logbook.
I called ATC and notified them we were having problems with the aircraft and that our intentions were to return. We identified that we had a loop fault and other indications on the aircraft and a land ASAP message on the ECAM. At this time; with the Controller; we declared an emergency and returned to our [departure airport].
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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