A319 captain reports distraction from false fuel tank temperature ECAM warning during takeoff roll.

Attributes
ACN	803805
Time
Date	200809
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 6300
ASRS Report	803805
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During the initial takeoff roll; we received an erroneous EFIS alert for low fuel temperature in the #2 main fuel tank. Since the tank temperature showed -55 degree C (-67 degree F) and the outside air temperature was above 80 degrees F; it was obvious that the indication was incorrect; so we continued the takeoff. Within 1 min after liftoff; the temperature indication returned to normal. The A319 is designed to inhibit all but a number of alerts during takeoff once the thrust has been set. Prior to that; alerts are displayed on the ECAM and a chime is sounded. For true malfunctions; the benefit is obvious. However; erroneous indications can create temporary distraction and confusion during a critical phase of flight. Fortunately for us; it was daylight VFR with no traffic considerations and a long runway available. Had the WX been low IFR with a lot of traffic on the taxiway or traffic on short final; the potential existed for an unnecessary abort or go around. Computerized aircraft system can occasionally generate faulty information requiring the crew to analyzesituation correctly. During certain phases of flight; this can be difficult and pose a reduction in the margin of safety if the information is not correctly interpreted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 CAPTAIN REPORTS DISTRACTION FROM FALSE FUEL TANK TEMPERATURE ECAM WARNING DURING TKOF ROLL.

Narrative: DURING THE INITIAL TKOF ROLL; WE RECEIVED AN ERRONEOUS EFIS ALERT FOR LOW FUEL TEMP IN THE #2 MAIN FUEL TANK. SINCE THE TANK TEMP SHOWED -55 DEG C (-67 DEG F) AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS ABOVE 80 DEGS F; IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE INDICATION WAS INCORRECT; SO WE CONTINUED THE TKOF. WITHIN 1 MIN AFTER LIFTOFF; THE TEMP INDICATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE A319 IS DESIGNED TO INHIBIT ALL BUT A NUMBER OF ALERTS DURING TKOF ONCE THE THRUST HAS BEEN SET. PRIOR TO THAT; ALERTS ARE DISPLAYED ON THE ECAM AND A CHIME IS SOUNDED. FOR TRUE MALFUNCTIONS; THE BENEFIT IS OBVIOUS. HOWEVER; ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS CAN CREATE TEMPORARY DISTRACTION AND CONFUSION DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT. FORTUNATELY FOR US; IT WAS DAYLIGHT VFR WITH NO TFC CONSIDERATIONS AND A LONG RWY AVAILABLE. HAD THE WX BEEN LOW IFR WITH A LOT OF TFC ON THE TXWY OR TFC ON SHORT FINAL; THE POTENTIAL EXISTED FOR AN UNNECESSARY ABORT OR GAR. COMPUTERIZED ACFT SYS CAN OCCASIONALLY GENERATE FAULTY INFO REQUIRING THE CREW TO ANALYZESITUATION CORRECTLY. DURING CERTAIN PHASES OF FLT; THIS CAN BE DIFFICULT AND POSE A REDUCTION IN THE MARGIN OF SAFETY IF THE INFO IS NOT CORRECTLY INTERPED.

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.