A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure
ECAM Gen Fault Number 2 after start. [We] followed ECAM procedure for fault. Problem was not solved; contacted Maintenance Control. [We] returned to the gate per Maintenance Control for MEL; since not deferrable by crew. MEL 24-20-01B required running the APU for duration of the flight. Departure was normal. During cruise FL320; ECAM APU Fault appeared. [We] ran the ECAM per company procedures. Tried to restart the APU; started fine; APU generator would not accept generator load; then ECAM APU Fault illuminated. [We] started a descent for turbulence; cool starter motor and possible diversion. Level at FL300 repeat the previous steps with no success. Per APU starter limitation; tired one last start of the APU at FL280; no success. Communicated a plan with ATC; First Officer; A Flight Attendant and Dispatch for a diversion since aircraft was down to one generator. [We] advised the passengers of diversion and precautionary landing at a diversion airport. Performed the Overweight Landing QRH procedures; configured the aircraft early to burn fuel. [We] landed at 151;800 LBS at less than 300 FPM; with no issues. [We] made a logbook entry for overweight landing.MEL issued to aircraft; APU failure in flight; aircraft had overnight check before this event.
An A320 engine generator faulted after start and was MEL'ed. At cruise the APU faulted and would not restart so crew diverted to a nearby airport.