Airbus A306 at Toulouse on Sep 13th 2011, uncommanded fall back of autothrust on takeoff
Last Update: July 23, 2013 / 14:56:38 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Sep 13, 2011
Classification
Report
Departure
Toulouse, France
Destination
Chester, United Kingdom
Aircraft Registration
F-GSTA
Aircraft Type
Airbus A300
ICAO Type Designator
A306
The French BEA released their final report in French concluding the probable causes of the incident were:
Lack of detection by the crew while monitoring announciators, that TAKE OFF mode had not engaged during takeoff roll.
The failure of not engaging in TAKE OFF mode probably was due to erratic wiring.
The BEA analysed that based on flight data recordings the crew were never shown the requested/required autopilot and autothrust modes, during the takeoff run they were shown: "THR L", "V/S" and "HDG". On the next flight, without occurrence, the announciators showed: "THR", "SRS" and "HDG SEL", the second next flight showed "THR", "SRS" and "RWY". Hence the takeoff mode was never active for the incident flight, and the engines never reached commanded takeoff thrust.
This FDR recordings were in disagreement with recollection by the crew, the captain specifically stated to have seen "THR" and "SRS" at the beginning of the takeoff run, the first officer could not recall particular modes.
The BEA reported that the Thrust Control Computer, the Thrust Levers and associated switches were examined with no faults found, the occurrence could not be reproduced. However, another crew had reported a similiar occurrence on the very same aircraft on May 11th 2011. An examination following that occurrence also did not reveal any fault.
Due to the wiring the only explanation of the failure to engage TAKEOFF mode despite TOGA being commanded is a faulty wiring between the thrust levers and buttons and the thrust control computer.
Another case by another operator was identified to have been caused by a temporary disturbance of the localizer signal during the takeoff run.
There were no specific procedures established for a case where TAKEOFF mode would disengage/fall back during the takeoff run after the initial verification call. The correct response would be to either reject takeoff upon discretion of the commander if below 100 knots or engage GO AROUND mode, which would, if the aircraft is still on the ground, effectively engage TAKE OFF mode again or if airborne engage the GO-AROUND mode.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Sep 13, 2011
Classification
Report
Departure
Toulouse, France
Destination
Chester, United Kingdom
Aircraft Registration
F-GSTA
Aircraft Type
Airbus A300
ICAO Type Designator
A306
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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