Description

On 15 March 2009, an Airbus A319-100 being operated by British Airways on a scheduled passenger flight from London Heathrow to Edinburgh experienced an electrical malfunction during the night pushback in normal ground visibility which blanked the Electronic Flight Instrument System displays following the second engine start and produced some electrical fumes but no smoke. The engines were shut down, a PAN was declared to ATC and the aircraft was towed back onto the gate where passengers disembarked normally via the airbridge.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the UK AAIB. It was established that, following the selection of GEN 1 after the start of the second (left) engine the left hand PFD and ND blanked and corresponding electrical cautions were annuciated on the ECAM. When the appropriate reset drill was actioned, a loud noise was heard from behind the right hand flight deck CB panel accompanied by a slight smell of electrical burning.