A320 flight crew experiences a dual elac failure during descent which is annunciated by the ECAM but...

Attributes
ACN	956940
Time
Date	201107
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Aeroplane Flight Control
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 225 Flight Crew Total 17800 Flight Crew Type 6000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 165 Flight Crew Total 17000 Flight Crew Type 8000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

We experienced a double elevator and aileron computer (elac) failure on the arrival phase. Approximately 8 miles west of the airport descending to 6;000 ft; the autopilot kicked itself off. As the flying pilot; I took control of the aircraft and began to manually fly. We then realized that the failure was due to the elac ECAM. The first officer read the messages off the ECAM. We were in 'alternate law' without an autopilot we had an elac fault and an elac pitch trim failure in both elac's. Note: the ECAM did not give us the 'blue to do items' it just gave us the problem; vref + 10; direct law with gear down info. The first officer requested an extended downwind and declared an emergency. The irregular procedure in the flight manual was then referenced and read by the first officer. When the elac switches were cycled we regained the functionality of both elac's. We then finished up the action items per the manual and took a turn back toward the airport. Landing and taxi in was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew experiences a dual ELAC failure during descent which is annunciated by the ECAM but without any ECAM actions. Flight Manual procedures indicated a reset of the ELAC's; which was successful; and a normal landing ensued.

Narrative: We experienced a double Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC) failure on the arrival phase. Approximately 8 miles west of the airport descending to 6;000 FT; the autopilot kicked itself off. As the flying pilot; I took control of the aircraft and began to manually fly. We then realized that the failure was due to the ELAC ECAM. The First Officer read the messages off the ECAM. We were in 'Alternate Law' without an autopilot We had an ELAC fault and an ELAC pitch trim failure in BOTH ELAC's. Note: The ECAM did not give us the 'Blue to do items' it just gave us the problem; VRef + 10; Direct Law with gear down info. The First Officer requested an extended downwind and declared an emergency. The irregular procedure in the flight manual was then referenced and read by the First Officer. When the ELAC switches were cycled we regained the functionality of both ELAC's. We then finished up the action items per the manual and took a turn back toward the airport. Landing and taxi in was uneventful.

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.

A320 flight crew experiences a dual elac failure during descent which is annunciated by the ECAM but without any ECAM actions. Flight manual procedures indicated a reset of the elac's; which was successful; and a normal landing ensued.