Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
After one hour in flight; ECAM displayed WHEEL N/W STRG FAULT. This fault was not an Immediate Action nor an ECAM Exception; however the QRH follow-up directed us to go to page 10. The instructions on page 11 of the QRH directed us to initiate the steps after landing gear extension. After we discussed the plan of action as a crew; the Captain communicated the final plan to the Dispatcher and Maintenance personnel. Once coordinated with ATC; we decided to execute the procedure about 10 miles from the airport. The landing gear was lowered and the nose wheel steering fault remained on display. The WHEEL N/W STRG FAULT checklist was completed. The final QRH guidance was that automatic rollout was not permitted and the use of differential braking to steer the aircraft during taxi was necessary. The ECAM supplemental Non-normal and Emergency Landing Checklist were also reviewed and followed step by step. The ECAM displayed CAT III Dual and N/W STRG were inoperative. The Captain decided to land on the longest runway. After landing the Captain cleared the runway using differential braking. The Fire Chief inspected the nose gear and once cleared; the Captain taxied forward to better position the airplane to be towed away. Once coordinated with ATC and ground personnel; the airplane was towed to the gate.Unknown cause of the equipment malfunction. All QRH procedures and Company guidance were followed. The Captain did an outstanding job integrating the crew; communicating and coordinating the final plan.
A321 First Officer reported a nosewheel steering fault inflight. The flight landed with inoperative nosewheel steering.