After twice encountering a rudder travel limit system ECAM message the A319 flight crew refused the ...

Narrative:

During engine start we received the ECAM warning: automatic flight rud trv lim system. Inop system: rud trv lim system. We followed the ECAM procedure; however; it did not resolve the problem. Returned to gate for maintenance. Maintenance cleared the logbook by performing a reset. Mechanic stated we made the right decision by returning to gate. During second pushback and upon starting second engine the same ECAM message recurred and we again returned to the gate. Maintenance tried to MEL the item; however; the entire system was inoperative so the flight crew refused the aircraft. Aircraft parts were not available to fix aircraft so an aircraft swap was performed.in addition; an assistant chief pilot was brought into the situation by the captain; due to unprofessional comments made by the passenger service manager in front of the first class customers; after she made the following comment; 'the captain is refusing a perfectly good aircraft.' this caused much alarm to our customers. The captain suggested the manager be counseled concerning ethical concerns and professionalism.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After twice encountering a rudder travel limit system ECAM message the A319 Flight Crew refused the aircraft. Following the refusal an unprofessional public comment was made to the passengers by the passenger agent.

Narrative: During engine start we received the ECAM warning: AUTO FLT RUD TRV LIM SYS. Inop system: RUD TRV LIM SYS. We followed the ECAM procedure; however; it did not resolve the problem. Returned to gate for Maintenance. Maintenance cleared the logbook by performing a reset. Mechanic stated we made the right decision by returning to gate. During second pushback and upon starting second engine the same ECAM message recurred and we again returned to the gate. Maintenance tried to MEL the item; however; the entire system was inoperative so the Flight Crew refused the aircraft. Aircraft parts were not available to fix aircraft so an aircraft swap was performed.In addition; an assistant Chief Pilot was brought into the situation by the Captain; due to unprofessional comments made by the Passenger Service Manager in front of the First Class customers; after she made the following comment; 'THE CAPTAIN IS REFUSING A PERFECTLY GOOD AIRCRAFT.' This caused much alarm to our customers. The Captain suggested the Manager be counseled concerning ethical concerns and professionalism.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	888951
Time
Date	201005
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Rudder Control System
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural MEL Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown

After twice encountering a rudder travel limit system ECAM message the A319 flight crew refused the aircraft. Following the refusal an unprofessional public comment was made to the passengers by the passenger agent.