An A320 engine 2 reverser fault ECAM alerted and even though the flight manual directed a diversion ...

Attributes
ACN	1070621
Time
Date	201302
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Turbine Engine Thrust Reverser
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 19200 Flight Crew Type 9000
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 16500 Flight Crew Type 7000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

During cruise got an engine 2 reverser fault ECAM with no other messages. Having had this happen [to me] numerous times during my many years on this equipment I was not concerned and knew what to expect when referencing the flight manual. Upon referencing the flight manual I was dismayed to see that the first action item was 'land as soon as possible' followed by the next steps which read 'if pressurized engine to idle' with no further direction. I knew from previous experience that this seemed either poorly written or mis-written. A reverser fault never required a diversion unless there were other qualifiers such as pressurized system or unlocked situation. Contact was made with maintenance; dispatch; duty manager and the A320 fleet technical manager who all agreed that the procedure was improperly written. They concurred that a diversion was not required and a continuation to destination was appropriate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A320 Engine 2 Reverser Fault ECAM alerted and even though the Flight Manual directed a diversion the crew knew is was not necessary. Dispatch and the Duty Manager confirmed the procedural error so the crew continued.

Narrative: During cruise got an Engine 2 Reverser Fault ECAM with no other messages. Having had this happen [to me] numerous times during my many years on this equipment I was not concerned and knew what to expect when referencing the flight manual. Upon referencing the Flight Manual I was dismayed to see that the first action item was 'Land as soon as possible' followed by the next steps which read 'if pressurized engine to idle' with no further direction. I knew from previous experience that this seemed either poorly written or mis-written. A reverser fault never required a diversion unless there were other qualifiers such as pressurized system or unlocked situation. Contact was made with Maintenance; Dispatch; Duty Manager and the A320 Fleet Technical Manager who all agreed that the procedure was improperly written. They concurred that a diversion was not required and a continuation to destination was appropriate.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

An A320 engine 2 reverser fault ECAM alerted and even though the flight manual directed a diversion the crew knew is was not necessary. Dispatch and the duty manager confirmed the procedural error so the crew continued.