Narrative:

Climbing through 10000 ft; clear skies and very smooth air; felt an uncommon 'bump' (like unexpected wake turbulence; except there were no other aircraft anywhere near us). A moment later; we received an ECAM for elevator aileron computer #1 fault. We followed the ECAM procedures by cycling the elevator aileron computer #1 switch off; then on. We then referenced the book to follow up. In the book; there is a note that says if there is any uncommanded flight control problems; to not reset the elevator aileron computer switches. This note was not on the ECAM procedures; so the note was moot. Seems to me that we followed the ECAM procedures; but in this situation; it was not the right thing to do. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the 'bump' was noticeable but produced only slight aircraft movement. He would not consider it to be an attitude change or any movement that would approach being uncomfortable for the crew or passenger. The reporter's concern was that his air carrier teaches that the flight crew will follow the ECAM procedure completely then refer to the book. When he referred to the book; he questioned whether he should have completed the ECAM because of the 'bump.' a clrer explanation in the manual of an 'uncommanded maneuver' versus a 'bump' would alleviate the ambiguity.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 CREW FELT A BUMP FOLLOWED BY AN ECAM ELEVATOR AILERON COMPUTER #1 FAULT. AFTER COMPLETING THE ECAM PROC THE CREW NOTED AN ECAM AND CHKLIST PROCEDURAL DIFFERENCE.

Narrative: CLBING THROUGH 10000 FT; CLR SKIES AND VERY SMOOTH AIR; FELT AN UNCOMMON 'BUMP' (LIKE UNEXPECTED WAKE TURB; EXCEPT THERE WERE NO OTHER ACFT ANYWHERE NEAR US). A MOMENT LATER; WE RECEIVED AN ECAM FOR ELEVATOR AILERON COMPUTER #1 FAULT. WE FOLLOWED THE ECAM PROCS BY CYCLING THE ELEVATOR AILERON COMPUTER #1 SWITCH OFF; THEN ON. WE THEN REFED THE BOOK TO FOLLOW UP. IN THE BOOK; THERE IS A NOTE THAT SAYS IF THERE IS ANY UNCOMMANDED FLT CTL PROBS; TO NOT RESET THE ELEVATOR AILERON COMPUTER SWITCHES. THIS NOTE WAS NOT ON THE ECAM PROCS; SO THE NOTE WAS MOOT. SEEMS TO ME THAT WE FOLLOWED THE ECAM PROCS; BUT IN THIS SITUATION; IT WAS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE 'BUMP' WAS NOTICEABLE BUT PRODUCED ONLY SLIGHT ACFT MOVEMENT. HE WOULD NOT CONSIDER IT TO BE AN ATTITUDE CHANGE OR ANY MOVEMENT THAT WOULD APCH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE CREW OR PAX. THE RPTR'S CONCERN WAS THAT HIS ACR TEACHES THAT THE FLT CREW WILL FOLLOW THE ECAM PROC COMPLETELY THEN REFER TO THE BOOK. WHEN HE REFERRED TO THE BOOK; HE QUESTIONED WHETHER HE SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED THE ECAM BECAUSE OF THE 'BUMP.' A CLRER EXPLANATION IN THE MANUAL OF AN 'UNCOMMANDED MANEUVER' VERSUS A 'BUMP' WOULD ALLEVIATE THE AMBIGUITY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.