Airbus A320 actual in flight double Hydraulic Failure
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I don’t have access to my Log Book at present, but I think these details are accurate. The A/C was a Caledonian A320. Reg G-BVYA call sign
CKT5118.
The incident took place in the morning of 30th December 1998 on route from EGKK-LEMG.
I have used the official request procedure for information from the CAA Archives and AAIB.
I have also asked a friend who works at the CAA as a Flt Ops inspector, to try and find out what happened to my paperwork and the results of any investigation. No evidence!
All I have been told by the AAIB is that any information requested on this incident should come from the French DGCA as we were in French airspace!
CKT5118.
The incident took place in the morning of 30th December 1998 on route from EGKK-LEMG.
I have used the official request procedure for information from the CAA Archives and AAIB.
I have also asked a friend who works at the CAA as a Flt Ops inspector, to try and find out what happened to my paperwork and the results of any investigation. No evidence!
All I have been told by the AAIB is that any information requested on this incident should come from the French DGCA as we were in French airspace!
I can only add that G-BVYA was a new build in 1992 from Airbus to Caledonian Airways as first customer in 1995.
(first of 3, all built in 1992) and leased from Kawasaki Leasing
(first of 3, all built in 1992) and leased from Kawasaki Leasing
Today this aircraft is registered and "stored" in Iran:
https://www.planespotters.net/airfra...irlines/38q0z3
https://www.planespotters.net/airfra...irlines/38q0z3
Last edited by Less Hair; 8th Jan 2024 at 10:26.
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Very slightly off topic, I know.
A few years ago we had a 320 return to LHR with Yellow and Blue systems Low Qty Ecam messages. Followed by a Green system Low Qty message on approach!
I was the first LAE on board and noticed one of the SDAC cb’s popped (can’t remember if it was 1 or 2), once reset the ECAM cleared! We then selected the Hyd Sys page and pulled the offending cb again and watched all of the Hyd Qty indicators drop to the bottom of the green range! Any hydraulic demand would then cause the indicators to drop into the amber low qty range, hence Green low qty on gear down.
The crew were so pre occupied with flying the aircraft in busy airspace, dealing with ECAM and QRH action, they simply overlooked checking behind them. That’s not a criticism at all, I can fully understand how that might happen.
It was one of the easiest Hydraulic fixes I ever had! It took some time to verify the system again but after engine runs etc QA were satisfied. The cb remained closed throughout, so we think it may have caught during the crew change at LHR.
A few years ago we had a 320 return to LHR with Yellow and Blue systems Low Qty Ecam messages. Followed by a Green system Low Qty message on approach!
I was the first LAE on board and noticed one of the SDAC cb’s popped (can’t remember if it was 1 or 2), once reset the ECAM cleared! We then selected the Hyd Sys page and pulled the offending cb again and watched all of the Hyd Qty indicators drop to the bottom of the green range! Any hydraulic demand would then cause the indicators to drop into the amber low qty range, hence Green low qty on gear down.
The crew were so pre occupied with flying the aircraft in busy airspace, dealing with ECAM and QRH action, they simply overlooked checking behind them. That’s not a criticism at all, I can fully understand how that might happen.
It was one of the easiest Hydraulic fixes I ever had! It took some time to verify the system again but after engine runs etc QA were satisfied. The cb remained closed throughout, so we think it may have caught during the crew change at LHR.
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Coincidentally I flew that A/C on its delivery flight from Toulouse to LGW. Small problem with the paint job… “Caledonian” was in Yellow.
FLS turned up later during the day on the recovery flight after local engineers had finished, We stayed overnight to fly it back to LGW, on finals guess what. “Gear Down” ECAM warning “Green System” low quantity low pressure!!
FLS turned up later during the day on the recovery flight after local engineers had finished, We stayed overnight to fly it back to LGW, on finals guess what. “Gear Down” ECAM warning “Green System” low quantity low pressure!!
Is this just a "silver anniversary" thing or is there a real point 25 years later about an airframe no longer flying?
Is someone trying to smear Airbus as a steer away from 737-Max-9?
Seems kinda strange to pop up so long after the event
Is someone trying to smear Airbus as a steer away from 737-Max-9?
Seems kinda strange to pop up so long after the event
Well 25y after the fact it seems indeed an interesting incident and an interesting "silence" from the usual suspects.
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Strange that this was brought up now, after so many years. These are very old stories and not really relevant today. My airline also had one A-320 dual hydraulic sys. loss in late eighties (on one of the first A-320 actually), that resulted in emergency landing in LGW IIRC, but for different reason than above. (Problem with BLU HYD reservoir pressurisation took out the Blue system, then came loss of Yellow sys due to burst pipe (press transducer) near the engine pump, followed by Green sys overheating as PTU was running madly and there was no instructions in ECAM checklist (yet) to switch it OFF immediatelly. Crew, assisted with A-320 maint. technician that happened to be seating in the cockpit, figured it out quickly and killed the PTU in time.) But things that caused that were rectified long ago thru design changes. Working on those low S/N was a maintenance nightmare then, as there were endless problems, fake warnings and also real failures, as both Airbus and operators/maintenance were on steep learning curves. But today A-320 is a sturdy, proven, reliable workhorse I have not even a split second of doubt boarding it. But I did have a second of hesitation when boarding a MAX a few weeks ago.
