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A captain explains why he believes an MEL deferral of the wing tank fuel transfer valves in the 'open' locked position on the A320 aircraft should not be allowed if the wing tank fuel temperatures are susceptible to rising to a level requiring a pilot to 'de-select' (disengage) the engine idg generators. Pilot refused aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 958316 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201107 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Circuit Breaker / Fuse / Thermocouple |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 25000 Flight Crew Type 3500 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
Assigned an A320 aircraft with a deferral for fuel tank wing transfer valves on both wings locked 'open.' in such condition; MEL has a multi-step procedure after fueling; including four circuit breaker cycles assigned to pilots. This is clearly a maintenance function and should be removed from pilot 'to do' list for dispatch of flight. Additionally; with fuel valves in deferred 'open' position; fuel is not available for integrated drive generator (idg) cooling via the designed recirculation system; setting up potential fuel tank temperature limit exceedence. MEL states that should that condition occur; to deselect [engine electrical] generators. It seems contrary to safe operations to enable a fuel problem to evolve into an electrical problem. This should not be a deferred item. Aircraft was refused and maintenance was begun; as we were assigned another aircraft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A Captain explains why he believes an MEL deferral of the Wing Tank Fuel Transfer Valves in the 'Open' locked position on the A320 aircraft should not be allowed if the wing tank fuel temperatures are susceptible to rising to a level requiring a Pilot to 'De-select' (disengage) the engine IDG Generators. Pilot refused aircraft.
Narrative: Assigned an A320 aircraft with a deferral for Fuel Tank Wing Transfer valves on both wings locked 'Open.' In such condition; MEL has a multi-step procedure after fueling; including four Circuit Breaker cycles assigned to pilots. This is clearly a Maintenance function and should be removed from pilot 'To Do' list for dispatch of flight. Additionally; with fuel valves in deferred 'Open' position; fuel is not available for Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) cooling via the designed recirculation system; setting up potential fuel tank temperature limit exceedence. MEL states that should that condition occur; to deselect [engine electrical] Generators. It seems contrary to safe operations to enable a fuel problem to evolve into an electrical problem. This should not be a deferred item. Aircraft was refused and maintenance was begun; as we were assigned another aircraft.
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.