A320 crew diverted to the nearest suitable airport because of a noticeable vibration in the aircraft...

Attributes
ACN	610848
Time
Date	200403
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdx.airport
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	610848
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 239 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 590
ASRS Report	610849
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Noticeable vibration as aircraft accelerated through 300 KIAS. I observed the inboard section of an access panel fluttering on the left outboard section of left wing. Slowed aircraft to 250 KIAS, (fluttering decreased), declared emergency, diverted to sea, conducted a normal approach. Landing was 5000 pounds overweight. Supplemental information of acn 610849: noticeable vibration felt on climb out from pdx at/above 15000 ft and 300 KTS. Panel observed fluttering on left wing, just forward of inboard aileron. No vibration felt at low altitude and below about 250 KTS. Declared emergency and diverted to seattle, wa, for overweight landing. Postflt maintenance inspection found loose panel caused by broken mounting flange.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT BECAUSE OF A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN THE ACFT.

Narrative: NOTICEABLE VIBRATION AS ACFT ACCELERATED THROUGH 300 KIAS. I OBSERVED THE INBOARD SECTION OF AN ACCESS PANEL FLUTTERING ON THE L OUTBOARD SECTION OF L WING. SLOWED ACFT TO 250 KIAS, (FLUTTERING DECREASED), DECLARED EMER, DIVERTED TO SEA, CONDUCTED A NORMAL APCH. LNDG WAS 5000 LBS OVERWT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO OF ACN 610849: NOTICEABLE VIBRATION FELT ON CLBOUT FROM PDX AT/ABOVE 15000 FT AND 300 KTS. PANEL OBSERVED FLUTTERING ON L WING, JUST FORWARD OF INBOARD AILERON. NO VIBRATION FELT AT LOW ALT AND BELOW ABOUT 250 KTS. DECLARED EMER AND DIVERTED TO SEATTLE, WA, FOR OVERWT LNDG. POSTFLT MAINT INSPECTION FOUND LOOSE PANEL CAUSED BY BROKEN MOUNTING FLANGE.

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.