An airbus A320 in climb at FL280 encountered a mild elevator vibration caused by worn elevator servo...

Attributes
ACN	487337
Time
Date	200010
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjn.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute airway : j18.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	487337
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : person 3
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication Company Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Climbing through FL280 at 302 KIAS in smooth air, we suddenly experienced a strong airframe vibration. This did not feel like turbulence. I turned on the seat belt sign and slowed to 280 KIAS. Vibration stopped when we slowed through 290 KIAS. I called the third flight attendant and she said she felt very strong vibration in the aft cabin. I consulted with company maintenance control, as our A320 fleet has a history of tail vibration events. Since we were no longer experiencing vibration and maintenance agreed it was prudent, I elected to continue on to cmh. I wrote up the occurrence in the logbook. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the fleet was purchased used and were built in the low 1990's period and is exhibiting everything from severe flutter to mild vibration on the elevator. The reporter said the fix on this airplane was replacement of the elevator servos. The reporter said the company was slow to make the necessary changes recommended by the manufacturer for this fleet problem. The reporter said this is an aging aircraft problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS A320 IN CLB AT FL280 ENCOUNTERED A MILD ELEVATOR VIBRATION CAUSED BY WORN ELEVATOR SERVOS.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH FL280 AT 302 KIAS IN SMOOTH AIR, WE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A STRONG AIRFRAME VIBRATION. THIS DID NOT FEEL LIKE TURB. I TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN AND SLOWED TO 280 KIAS. VIBRATION STOPPED WHEN WE SLOWED THROUGH 290 KIAS. I CALLED THE THIRD FLT ATTENDANT AND SHE SAID SHE FELT VERY STRONG VIBRATION IN THE AFT CABIN. I CONSULTED WITH COMPANY MAINT CTL, AS OUR A320 FLEET HAS A HISTORY OF TAIL VIBRATION EVENTS. SINCE WE WERE NO LONGER EXPERIENCING VIBRATION AND MAINT AGREED IT WAS PRUDENT, I ELECTED TO CONTINUE ON TO CMH. I WROTE UP THE OCCURRENCE IN THE LOGBOOK. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE FLEET WAS PURCHASED USED AND WERE BUILT IN THE LOW 1990'S PERIOD AND IS EXHIBITING EVERYTHING FROM SEVERE FLUTTER TO MILD VIBRATION ON THE ELEVATOR. THE RPTR SAID THE FIX ON THIS AIRPLANE WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE ELEVATOR SERVOS. THE RPTR SAID THE COMPANY WAS SLOW TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS FLEET PROB. THE RPTR SAID THIS IS AN AGING ACFT PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

An airbus A320 in climb at FL280 encountered a mild elevator vibration caused by worn elevator servos.