A321
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
During preflight FDML review; I noted that this aircraft had an ELAC 1 Pitch Fault and ELAC 2 Pitch Fault the day before. There was a maintenance sign off with a computer system/bite with no faults noted. This is the same aircraft in which I had a simultaneous F/CTL ELAC 1 PITCH and F/CTL ELAC 2 PITCH FAULT [several weeks ago] at FL350. The maintenance sign off was GRN SCAN TEST OF ESCS and BITE check OK. After the problem; I was very concerned that; after the loss of primary and secondary pitch control; the link which caused these two simultaneous Flight Control failures was never identified. I contacted my Dispatcher who placed me in contact with Maintenance Control. After a discussion; a detailed review of the previous flight control failures was conducted. The Pitch Trim Actuator was replaced and all tests were completed. An uneventful flight followed. I would suggest a more comprehensive review of maintenance history anytime there is a flight control problem on any of our aircraft.
A321 Captain discovers during preflight that the aircraft had a ELAC 1 Pitch Fault and ELAC 2 Pitch Fault a day earlier and that it is the same aircraft that he experienced the same problem several weeks earlier. The maintenance sign off was ground test OK; but a detailed review of the previous flight control failures was conducted at the reporters suggestion and the Pitch Trim Actuator was replaced.