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A320 crew had an unstabilized approach after the crew did not disconnect a malfunctioning autothrottle.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 510249 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200105 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : den.airport |
| State Reference | CO |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 msl single value : 1000 |
| Environment | |
| Weather Elements | Turbulence |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : den.tower artcc : zmp.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | ils localizer & glide slope : 35l |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument precision |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 118 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 819 |
| ASRS Report | 510249 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : air speed indicator other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | aircraft : automation overrode flight crew none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
Captain was hand flying with flight director system off and autothrottles on. We were at the OM with flaps 3 degrees, gear down, high and 25 KTS fast with managed speed. We wre configured for landing at 1000 ft, about 1 DOT high and about 20 KTS fast. I noticed that the throttles were not in idle. At 600-700 ft, we were 1/2 DOT high 15-20 KTS fast, 800 FPM down and the throttles were at 1/15 EPR. At 500 ft the captain pulled up the nose to try to get rid of some of the airspeed -- it started to bleed off to 12 KTS fast, but the throttles were still above 1.1 EPR. I did not advocate a go around. It looked like the throttles were maintaining a high airspeed on purpose due to the turbulence. I took this as being ok feeling that the plane was trying to manage a higher airspeed even though the magenta bug wasn't indicating the higher airspeed. After we landed, I looked through the flight manual and saw that if the computers wanted to fly a higher airspeed that the magenta bug would indicate it. I don't understand why the throttles were up but regardless I still should have advocated (called for) a go around. There was no discussion from either of us as the approach was progressing that we were fast. His actions indicated that he realized it but I still should have voiced it and hopefully would have established some common sense in the cockpit.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A320 CREW HAD AN UNSTABILIZED APCH AFTER THE CREW DID NOT DISCONNECT A MALFUNCTIONING AUTOTHROTTLE.
Narrative: CAPT WAS HAND FLYING WITH FLT DIRECTOR SYS OFF AND AUTOTHROTTLES ON. WE WERE AT THE OM WITH FLAPS 3 DEGS, GEAR DOWN, HIGH AND 25 KTS FAST WITH MANAGED SPD. WE WRE CONFIGURED FOR LNDG AT 1000 FT, ABOUT 1 DOT HIGH AND ABOUT 20 KTS FAST. I NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLES WERE NOT IN IDLE. AT 600-700 FT, WE WERE 1/2 DOT HIGH 15-20 KTS FAST, 800 FPM DOWN AND THE THROTTLES WERE AT 1/15 EPR. AT 500 FT THE CAPT PULLED UP THE NOSE TO TRY TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE AIRSPD -- IT STARTED TO BLEED OFF TO 12 KTS FAST, BUT THE THROTTLES WERE STILL ABOVE 1.1 EPR. I DID NOT ADVOCATE A GAR. IT LOOKED LIKE THE THROTTLES WERE MAINTAINING A HIGH AIRSPD ON PURPOSE DUE TO THE TURB. I TOOK THIS AS BEING OK FEELING THAT THE PLANE WAS TRYING TO MANAGE A HIGHER AIRSPD EVEN THOUGH THE MAGENTA BUG WASN'T INDICATING THE HIGHER AIRSPD. AFTER WE LANDED, I LOOKED THROUGH THE FLT MANUAL AND SAW THAT IF THE COMPUTERS WANTED TO FLY A HIGHER AIRSPD THAT THE MAGENTA BUG WOULD INDICATE IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE THROTTLES WERE UP BUT REGARDLESS I STILL SHOULD HAVE ADVOCATED (CALLED FOR) A GAR. THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION FROM EITHER OF US AS THE APCH WAS PROGRESSING THAT WE WERE FAST. HIS ACTIONS INDICATED THAT HE REALIZED IT BUT I STILL SHOULD HAVE VOICED IT AND HOPEFULLY WOULD HAVE ESTABLISHED SOME COMMON SENSE IN THE COCKPIT.
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.