Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 148
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
During extended taxi in; I called for right engine shut down just after required cooling time. FO acknowledged and announced generator switch. I confirmed I was off brakes and steering; and FO switched electrics but did NOT immediately shut down the engine. This was due to ground controller calling at that precise time with instructions to taxi to a holding pad. There was unusually heavy ground traffic. I failed to cross check the engine instruments to verify that the engine was shut down as requested; and due to many distractions from the subsequent ground instructions and ground traffic; neither of us noticed the error until I parked at the gate. Since I did not have the APU running for parking; I waited for ground power to be plugged in before calling for the left engine to be shut down. It was only then that we both realized the right engine was still running; as well.
A320 Captain discovered at the gate that the right engine had not been shut down by the First Officer during taxi in due to distraction with ATC communications.