A320 flight crew experiences inappropriate thrust addition by auto thrust during visual approach. Th...

Attributes
ACN	867940
Time
Date	201001
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Autothrottle/Speed Control
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 230 Flight Crew Total 18750 Flight Crew Type 4300
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Speed All Types

Narrative:

We were conducting a visual approach to runway 01. I was the first officer and the pilot flying. We were at approximately 1800 feet and at 180 KIAS; flaps 1; with the autothrottles engaged. The autothrottles were in 'speed' mode and speed bug was in managed speed with the vapp speed at about 132 KIAS; and the engines at idle as we descended. I called for gear down; and while the gear was in transit; the thrust increased slightly and then returned to idle. A second or so later the thrust began to gradually increase and accelerated the aircraft from approximately 175 KIAS to 190 KIAS. The thrust and airspeed continued to increase; and it became apparent that I would have to disconnect the autothrottles to avoid overspeeding the flaps; which is what I did. No parameters were exceeded and at all times the speed bug remained at vapp with the autothrottles in 'speed' mode. The autothrottles remained disconnected for the remainder of the flight; and we finished configuring the aircraft and completed the approach and landing uneventfully. After gate arrival the captain entered the autothrottle discrepancy in the flight deck maintenance log.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew experiences inappropriate thrust addition by Auto Thrust during visual approach. The aircraft was in managed speed with the bug at 131 knots with the current speed well above that when the thrust increased. Auto Thrust was disengaged and thrust controlled manually to a normal landing.

Narrative: We were conducting a Visual Approach to Runway 01. I was the First Officer and the pilot flying. We were at approximately 1800 feet and at 180 KIAS; flaps 1; with the autothrottles engaged. The autothrottles were in 'SPEED' mode and speed bug was in managed speed with the Vapp speed at about 132 KIAS; and the engines at idle as we descended. I called for gear down; and while the gear was in transit; the thrust increased slightly and then returned to idle. A second or so later the thrust began to gradually increase and accelerated the aircraft from approximately 175 KIAS to 190 KIAS. The thrust and airspeed continued to increase; and it became apparent that I would have to disconnect the autothrottles to avoid overspeeding the flaps; which is what I did. No parameters were exceeded and at all times the speed bug remained at Vapp with the autothrottles in 'SPEED' mode. The autothrottles remained disconnected for the remainder of the flight; and we finished configuring the aircraft and completed the approach and landing uneventfully. After gate arrival the Captain entered the autothrottle discrepancy in the Flight Deck Maintenance Log.

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.