A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General Maintenance Action; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Aircraft
While performing the preflight O2 check I got the following ECAM indication: OXY turned amber...pressure was approximately 1;650 PSI and REGUL LO PR appeared in amber under the pressure display. I HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. Approximately last summer; had an aircraft with the same problem. In that case; Maintenance replaced the regulator and some sensors with no effect; and the jet was removed from service. On this day Maintenance felt it was an indication problem and the intent was to defer the oxy indication. As before; when the First Officer and I donned our O2 masks; after 2-3 good breaths; the masks sucked in against our face. There was DEFINITELY an airflow problem. Took quite awhile to convince Maintenance of this; we switched airplanes and I believe the aircraft was removed from service. The first time this occurred; I thought it was just a strange; fluke 'Airbus failure'. Now that I have seen this failure twice; my concern is there may be a fleet wide problem. PLEASE NOTE: This failure is ONLY noticed if you are looking at the ECAM oxygen indication while performing the O2 check!!!!!!!!!!
A319 Captain experiences a crew oxygen system failure during preflight testing and informs Maintenance. Maintenance attempts to defer the oxygen indication system but the crew refuses to accept the aircraft.