A320 aircraft had multiple flight management guidance computers (FMGC) freeze at liftoff. Captain message read 'please wait' and first officer read 'time out.' reporter captain says they reset the computers with no avail. Apparently they eventually regained the FMGC's. Callback attempted 3 times.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	382191
Time
Date	199710
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 50
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 30000 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	382191
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On liftoff, both mcdu's had a freeze in position. First officer's showed 'timed out,' captain's showed 'please wait.' went to standby navigation and followed communication. Reset computers but no help. This could have been very hazardous if on an extended overwater flight. I feel we should have GPS backup.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 ACFT HAD MULTIPLE FLT MGMNT GUIDANCE COMPUTERS (FMGC) FREEZE AT LIFTOFF. CAPT MESSAGE READ 'PLEASE WAIT' AND FO READ 'TIME OUT.' RPTR CAPT SAYS THEY RESET THE COMPUTERS WITH NO AVAIL. APPARENTLY THEY EVENTUALLY REGAINED THE FMGC'S. CALLBACK ATTEMPTED 3 TIMES.

Narrative: ON LIFTOFF, BOTH MCDU'S HAD A FREEZE IN POS. FO'S SHOWED 'TIMED OUT,' CAPT'S SHOWED 'PLEASE WAIT.' WENT TO STANDBY NAV AND FOLLOWED COM. RESET COMPUTERS BUT NO HELP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY HAZARDOUS IF ON AN EXTENDED OVERWATER FLT. I FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE GPS BACKUP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.