A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other; Time Pressure; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Company Policy; Procedure; Aircraft
After clearing runway and taxing to the gate. We were told to hold short of Taxiway N and to contact ramp. We started the APU and followed ATC instructions. We contacted ramp and was told to hold short for traffic in the alley. Captain told me to shut down engine 2 and turn on the APU bleed to help with cooling. Right after I turned on the bleed we had a dirty wet sock smell in the cockpit and the APU automatically shut down. Was running the ECAM procedure when we got a call from the aft Flight Attendant (FA). She said there was a smell and haze in the cabin. I told her what happened and said to keep us updated. She asked if I could make an announcement. I made an announcement and told the Captain of the situation. At that point I called back and asked if the haze was dissipating which it was; at the same time we got cleared to the gate. Got to the gate without further problems. Wrote up in maintenance log and waited for maintenance. Maintenance did not show up right away; so left the plane.When I came the back; crew was taking their bags off. So I got my bags and went up to gate area and found the Captain. Captain said the mechanic told him that the APU blew a seal and what we were smelling was oil. I told him I was feeling nauseous. We decided to go to the ER as a crew. They did a blood test and put us on oxygen. Test came back negative and were released. Have had a headache for last two days.
In the cockpit we smelled the (dirty sock) smell and believed it was from a temporary overheat event. After deplaning; and speaking with maintenance; then it came to my attention it was from a very toxic oil vapor issue from the APU.Train crew members how to recognize oil leaks in the bleed air system.Note: If this happen inflight from an engine; add affected engines bleed switch off to stop the source; to our smoke and Fume procedure. Why would the company want to keep pumping in the oil vapor into the cabin?
After landing the APU was started; but auto shutdown accompanied by a dirty socks odor and cabin haze. At the gate Maintenance determined an APU oil seal failed allowing oil in APU bleed air. The aircraft was removed from service. The First Officer was examined at an ER and released with a persistent headache.