Narrative:

I accepted an aircraft with the #4 spoiler inoperative and deferred. After reviewing the MEL and applying all takeoff penalty we proceeded to push back for departure. During engine start the F/control splr fault ECAM illuminated several times as power sources switched. The ECAM was canceled by me and judged as a 'nuisance ECAM' due to the deferred spoiler system. In cruise; while computing the landing distance abnormal confign in preparation for landing; the first officer and I noticed that spoiler panel #1 was now inoperative as well; indicated by amber X's on the ECAM flight controls page. We discussed when these spoilers became inoperative as we had no abnormal indications during the flight. Appropriate corrections were taken for landing performance and a normal landing made at the destination. Our recollection of the flight control check made before departure was that all was 'normal' with the exception of the deferred spoilers. Destination maintenance personnel were able to regain spoiler #1 normal function by resetting second 3. While I am still unsure of exactly when spoiler #1 became inoperative; I take away from this that every ECAM should be thoroughly investigated. Deferred system need extra attention to make sure the system is operating as described on the deferral item and have not degraded further.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CAPT CANCELLED A F/CTL SPLR FAULT ECAM DURING ENG START BECAUSE IT WAS A PRESUMED NUANCE FAULT WITH A SPOILER MEL'ED. IN FLT AN ADDITIONAL SPOILER WAS FOUND INOP WITH NO APPARENT WARNING.

Narrative: I ACCEPTED AN ACFT WITH THE #4 SPOILER INOP AND DEFERRED. AFTER REVIEWING THE MEL AND APPLYING ALL TKOF PENALTY WE PROCEEDED TO PUSH BACK FOR DEP. DURING ENG START THE F/CTL SPLR FAULT ECAM ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES AS PWR SOURCES SWITCHED. THE ECAM WAS CANCELED BY ME AND JUDGED AS A 'NUISANCE ECAM' DUE TO THE DEFERRED SPOILER SYS. IN CRUISE; WHILE COMPUTING THE LNDG DISTANCE ABNORMAL CONFIGN IN PREPARATION FOR LNDG; THE FO AND I NOTICED THAT SPOILER PANEL #1 WAS NOW INOP AS WELL; INDICATED BY AMBER X'S ON THE ECAM FLT CTLS PAGE. WE DISCUSSED WHEN THESE SPOILERS BECAME INOP AS WE HAD NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS DURING THE FLT. APPROPRIATE CORRECTIONS WERE TAKEN FOR LNDG PERFORMANCE AND A NORMAL LNDG MADE AT THE DEST. OUR RECOLLECTION OF THE FLT CTL CHK MADE BEFORE DEP WAS THAT ALL WAS 'NORMAL' WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DEFERRED SPOILERS. DEST MAINT PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO REGAIN SPOILER #1 NORMAL FUNCTION BY RESETTING SEC 3. WHILE I AM STILL UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHEN SPOILER #1 BECAME INOP; I TAKE AWAY FROM THIS THAT EVERY ECAM SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. DEFERRED SYS NEED EXTRA ATTN TO MAKE SURE THE SYS IS OPERATING AS DESCRIBED ON THE DEFERRAL ITEM AND HAVE NOT DEGRADED FURTHER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.