A320, vicinity Perth Australia, 2015

A320, vicinity Perth Australia, 2015

Summary

On 12 September 2015, an Airbus A320 autopilot and autothrust dropped out as it climbed out of Perth and multiple ECAM system messages were presented with intermittent differences in displayed airspeeds. During the subsequent turn back in Alternate Law, a stall warning was disregarded with no actual consequence. The Investigation attributed the problems to intermittently blocked pitot tubes but could not establish how this had occurred. It was also found that the priority for ECAM message display during the flight had been inappropriate and that the key procedure contained misleading information. These ECAM issues were subsequently addressed by the aircraft manufacturer.

Description

On 12 September 2015, an Airbus A320 (VH-FNP) being operated by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines on a domestic passenger charter flight from Perth to Boolgeeda, Western Australia experienced uncommanded autopilot and autothrust disconnection and multiple system alerts as the aircraft climbed on departure from Perth in day IMC. During the subsequent return to Perth, a precautionary PAN was declared to ATC and a stall warning which occurred whilst establishing on the ILS localiser was disregarded without apparent consequence but subsequently was found to have been real.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Data from the aircraft FDR and 2 hour CVR were successfully downloaded. Information on the total and aircraft type experience of the pilots involved was not recorded.

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