A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
About 20 minutes into flight while climbing through 32;000 feet to get to 35;000 feet we heard a clicking noise coming from behind the circuit breaker panel and I noticed the Captain PFD and ND flicker a few times. I suspected we might have a generator issue as I had noticed in the logbook that an IDG had recently been changed on one of the engines but I was not sure which one. We were not issued any ECAM messages. The electrical page did not show anything abnormal except a possible high voltage on the left side TR (no amber indications). We were flying to ZZZ which had weather right at minimums so I attempted to start the APU. Starting the APU resulted in an APU auto shutdown. The electrical issues continued and became steadier so I told the First Officer I thought we should divert back. As we began the diversion the problem continued to get worse. I gave the controls to the First Officer because my PFD/ND were going blank so often that they were unusable. We were unsure which checklist to use as I attempted to look through the QRH. No checklist applied to our issue. I did run a diversion checklist.The problem continued to get worse. The lower ECAM displayed multiple messages and the overhead panel displayed multiple lights flashing on and off in sequence with the clicking noises heard from behind the circuit breaker panel. The Captain's PFD/ND and upper ECAM were mostly unusable. Multiple systems were shutting off and turning back on again. The autopilot and autothrust failed. The First Officer's PFD and ND stayed useable for most of the flight but would flicker on occasion. The First Officer's MCDU was useable but the Captain's MCDU was not. We were in visual conditions all the way back.When we put down the landing gear it appeared the aircraft went into alternate law however this was intermittent. 'Use manual pitch trim' was displayed in amber on the FMA. I observed the trim wheel moving. The flaps and slats worked and the aircraft was controllable for the approach and landing. Communication with ATC was intermittent due to the electrical issues. Some uncommanded movement of the rudder was felt by the First Officer and I noticed some clicking on the rudder pedals during taxi but the aircraft remained controllable at all times.After parking and shutting down engine #1 all the electrical issues went away. We considered shutting off the left generator in flight but there was not enough data available to support that decision. Also the APU would not start.
The reporter stated that he believes that Maintenance replaced the generator control panel to return the aircraft to service. He also discovered after the flight that the QRH does have a checklist to cover the situation but it is not located in the electrical section. It is in the section concerning displays.
A320 Captain reported experiencing electrical anomalies during climb to FL350 which resulted in the intermittent blanking of his PFD; ND and the upper ECAM display. With low ceilings at their destination; the crew elected to return to their departure airport. The First Officer's displays remain normal and he becomes the pilot flying for the approach and landing.