A319
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
At initial entry into the flight deck; a large amount of coffee was spilled on the aft; center; pedestal of our Airbus A319. Despite an immediate clean up with a large number of paper towels; the first noted impact may have been the failure of the ACARS printer; as indicated by an MCDU message; and the failure of the 'Slew' button to advance any paper. We then began a long series of phone calls with our dispatcher and Maintenance Control (conferenced in) to both attempt a reset of the printer or secure an MEL entry. The total time on the phone was likely over 30 minutes; after which we had an ACARS printer MEL. During our extensive time on hold; I began to suspect that some of the coffee may have also entered other components; such as the Flap/Slat and Spoiler control modules; all near the ACARS printer. After advising Maintenance Control of this; their guidance was to cycle the various components at the gate to see if they worked; we did so; but that generated a FLT/C ECAM Slat Sys error message. Maintenance Control suggested that we try the tests again; once both engines were running; which we did. Both systems appeared to operate nominally so we dismissed our push crew for taxi out. Within 2 to 4 minutes of commencing taxi; I noted an electrical odor; followed soon thereafter by visible whiffs of electrical smoke coming from the ACARS printer area. I directed the First Officer to immediately pulled the ACARS printer Circuit Breaker (as we knew from our earlier Maintenance Control-directed troubleshooting); but found it had already popped. We returned to the gate after consulting with Maintenance Control and local operations; whereupon our aircraft was eventually removed from service.This was arguably the greatest failure of my entire aviation career; I am aghast that we allowed this situation to progress as far is it did; particularly in light of the 'What If's?' We almost took off in an aircraft with grossly uncertain airworthiness. An after-the-fact Google search reveals a long history of potentially catastrophic aviation emergencies and incidents from cockpit fluid spills; we would have added to this list if the ACARS printer had happened to begin smoking a few minutes later; or if the spoilers or flaps/slats had had an uncommanded movement; or if the Engine Master Control(s) had detected a false 'Off' signal...all from a stray drop of coffee migrating to the wrong place at the worst time.While there are many parties to this series of mistakes; I feel that Maintenance Control guidance in this matter was woefully incorrect and caused a serious; negative; impact on our flight's safety. Furthermore; our own flight training has been deficient; we should have known to ground the aircraft. Had we been correctly trained on this threat; we would have never left the gate. Prior to this event; I had little understanding of the potential damage from fluid spills; now I know better; particularly after seeing the coffee stains near the cannon plugs and wiring of essential items inside the center pedestal. Lastly; we were not the first; nor will we be the last; to spill something on the flight deck: the FAA and other aviation authorities should quickly establish Technical Standard Orders for all equipment in 'spill zones' so as to prevent potentially catastrophic outcomes going forward.
A319 Captain reported spilling coffee on the center pedestal; resulting in electrical shorts and damage to aircraft systems.