 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
A long range air carrier flight had to return to their departure airport when a failed air data computer and the need to utilize rvsm airspace proved incompatible.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1038006 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201209 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Air Data Computer |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55 Flight Crew Type 8500 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
At approximately 1;500 AGL on departure the right air data computer (air data computer) failed and the first officer had yellow altitude and airspeed flags on his primary flight display (pfd). He selected the left air data computer and climb was continued to FL320 as the relief pilots researched the aircraft operating manual and I contacted dispatch and maintenance control for guidance. Maintenance control advised no corrective procedure was available and I elected to pull and reset the right air data computer power circuit breaker in hopes this might correct the malfunction. The air data computer remained inoperative and further investigation revealed two air data computer's were required to traverse rvsm airspace. Dispatch coordinated our return with center and; when clearance was received we dumped fuel on the return. An uneventful diversion was completed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A long range air carrier flight had to return to their departure airport when a failed ADC and the need to utilize RVSM airspace proved incompatible.
Narrative: At approximately 1;500 AGL on departure the right Air Data Computer (ADC) failed and the First Officer had Yellow Altitude and Airspeed flags on his Primary Flight Display (PFD). He selected the left ADC and climb was continued to FL320 as the relief pilots researched the Aircraft Operating Manual and I contacted Dispatch and Maintenance Control for guidance. Maintenance Control advised no corrective procedure was available and I elected to pull and reset the Right ADC Power Circuit Breaker in hopes this might correct the malfunction. The ADC remained inoperative and further investigation revealed two ADC's were required to traverse RVSM airspace. Dispatch coordinated our return with Center and; when clearance was received we dumped fuel on the return. An uneventful diversion was completed.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.