Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
I was the Captain and flying pilot on takeoff roll on Runway 19R. At the 80 KTS call; I checked my airspeed indicator and it was normal and indicating approximately 80 KTS. Then a few seconds later at an airspeed somewhere between 80 KTS and V1; I glanced back down at my airspeed indicator and it was showing below 80 KTS. As Captain; I exercised my command decision to reject the takeoff. The rejected takeoff maneuver was completed; and we taxied clear of Runway 19R. My First Officer informed Tower; consulted the QRH and turned on the brake fans. I made a PA announcement to the passengers and stated the reason for the rejected takeoff. I also informed them that we would be returning to the gate after our brakes had a chance to cool. We then informed Operations and Maintenance and returned to the gate. After consulting with Maintenance; we deplaned the passengers without incidence. I then called Dispatch and informed the Dispatcher of the event. Systems Scheduling then decided to cancel the flight. The event occurred due to a faulty and inaccurate airspeed indication.
At approximately; V1 the Captain called 'reject' and said something about his speed and rejected the takeoff. I advised the Tower we were aborting the takeoff. The Captain let the autobrakes decelerate the aircraft until a safe speed and finished the braking manually. The Tower asked if we needed any assistance; we declined and they told us to contact Ground clearing the runway. We cleared on Taxiway W1. At this time I advised we needed to go back to the Gate but needed to stop and let the brakes cool. We pulled off on the taxiway to let the brakes cool and I advised Operations we needed to return and have Maintenance meet us. I got out the QRH and reviewed the hot brake section with Captain. After about 10 minutes with the brakes cooling down we proceeded to the Gate and met with maintenance. On the taxiway while we waited for the brakes to cool the Captain said his airspeed indicator was only showing 80 KTS when he glanced down at it. Up to the time of the reject my airspeed indicator was showing normal acceleration. I believe the Captain rejected the takeoff due to the fact he didn't think there was sufficient airspeed to continue.
An A320 Captain rejected the takeoff near V1 because his PFD airspeed indicated around 80 KTS while the First Officer's indicated near V1.