Narrative:

Climbing through FL320; we received a crc and ECAM warning: 'emerg: excess cabin altitude.' we both complied with initial ECAM action of donning oxygen masks. I stopped the climb; returning initially to FL320. However; I did not begin an emergency descent because we had no confirming evidence of excess cabin altitude. On the contrary; the pressurization page showed a psid [pounds per square inch differential] of 7.9 and a cabin altitude of 5;350 ft. Moreover; we had no sensory indication of pressure fluctuations or unusual cabin rate-of-climb. I contacted dispatch and asked for a recommendation. (I also informed our first flight attendant of the non-normal.) meanwhile;the first officer found the relevant entry in the non-normal manual. This stated that the prescribed ECAM actions may not be disregarded. Dispatch conferred with maintenance control and initially recommended to continue to destination as long as cabin pressurization was maintained. When we pointed out the content of the supplemental manual however; dispatch agreed with our plan to return. We received clearance to reverse course and to descend to FL240 and shortly to FL190 or FL180. We informed our cabin staff and passengers. Given the consistent performance of the pressurization control; I felt that a normal; idle descent was the safest course of action. (The first officer continued to wear his oxygen mask; while I removed mine for better communication.) soon; center had us on radar; and we descended to 15;000 ft. I felt that this altitude was a reasonable compromise; considering; on the one hand a possible loss of cabin pressurization; and passenger comfort on the other. Dispatch looked at terrain height for us. We landed uneventfully; approximately 10;000 pounds overweight.a malfunction of the cabin altitude sensing system likely caused the event. Despite my feeling that the press page indications were correct; they were not: on approach at roughly 3;500 MSL we 'caught the cabin;' resulting in sensation in the ears and an ECAM to the effect of 'insufficient cabin differential.' at the gate with the doors open; the cabin altitude read -2;100 ft. The psid was also anomalous. Training material on the possibility of erroneous press page indications might be helpful.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 Captain reported an ECAM message for Excess Cabin Altitude climbing through FL320. The ECAM pressurization page shows normal cabin pressurization. The crew elected to return to departure airport where indications of abnormal pressurization are manifested during approach and on the ground.

Narrative: Climbing through FL320; we received a CRC and ECAM warning: 'EMERG: EXCESS CABIN ALT.' We both complied with initial ECAM action of donning oxygen masks. I stopped the climb; returning initially to FL320. However; I did not begin an emergency descent because we had no confirming evidence of excess cabin altitude. On the contrary; the pressurization page showed a PSID [pounds per square inch differential] of 7.9 and a cabin altitude of 5;350 FT. Moreover; we had no sensory indication of pressure fluctuations or unusual cabin rate-of-climb. I contacted Dispatch and asked for a recommendation. (I also informed our First Flight Attendant of the non-normal.) Meanwhile;The First Officer found the relevant entry in the Non-Normal Manual. This stated that the prescribed ECAM actions may not be disregarded. Dispatch conferred with Maintenance Control and initially recommended to continue to destination as long as cabin pressurization was maintained. When we pointed out the content of the Supplemental Manual however; Dispatch agreed with our plan to return. We received clearance to reverse course and to descend to FL240 and shortly to FL190 or FL180. We informed our cabin staff and passengers. Given the consistent performance of the pressurization control; I felt that a normal; idle descent was the safest course of action. (The First Officer continued to wear his oxygen mask; while I removed mine for better communication.) Soon; Center had us on radar; and we descended to 15;000 FT. I felt that this altitude was a reasonable compromise; considering; on the one hand a possible loss of cabin pressurization; and passenger comfort on the other. Dispatch looked at terrain height for us. We landed uneventfully; approximately 10;000 LBS overweight.A malfunction of the cabin altitude sensing system likely caused the event. Despite my feeling that the PRESS page indications were correct; they were not: On approach at roughly 3;500 MSL we 'caught the cabin;' resulting in sensation in the ears and an ECAM to the effect of 'insufficient cabin differential.' At the gate with the doors open; the cabin altitude read -2;100 FT. The PSID was also anomalous. Training material on the possibility of erroneous PRESS page indications might be helpful.

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.