Overview
• Operator: Air Canada Rouge
• Aircraft Model: Airbus A319-100
• Registration: C-FYJE
• Flight Number: RV-1833
• Route: Antigua (ANU) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
• Date: 13 February 2025
• Occupants: 118 (Passengers and crew)
• Casualties: None reported
• Nature of Incident: Radar altimeter malfunction, causing erroneous aural alerts
Incident Summary
An Air Canada Rouge Airbus A319-100, operating as flight RV-1833, departed Antigua’s runway 07 en route to Toronto Pearson International Airport when, at approximately 800 feet AGL, the crew received multiple successive aural warnings related to the radar altimeter. The alerts included false callouts concerning gear position and throttle settings, prompting the crew to assess the situation.
Recognizing the alerts as erroneous, the crew decided to level off at FL110 and entered a holding pattern to troubleshoot the issue. After consultation with maintenance operations control, the crew pulled the RALT2 circuit breaker, which successfully stopped the aural warnings. The aircraft then proceeded to return to Antigua, where it performed a safe landing on runway 07 approximately 90 minutes after departure.
Sequence of Events
Pre-incident Conditions:
• The flight departed normally from Antigua’s runway 07 under standard operating conditions.
• No prior reports of technical anomalies before departure.
In-flight Occurrence:
• At 800 feet AGL, multiple aural alerts related to the radar altimeter began to sound, causing concern for the flight crew.
• Alerts included incorrect gear position callouts and throttle warnings.
• The crew, suspecting a faulty radar altimeter, decided to halt their climb at FL110 and hold to troubleshoot.
• After consultation with maintenance operations control, the crew pulled the RALT2 circuit breaker, which stopped the erroneous warnings.
Landing & Emergency Response:
• The crew opted to return to Antigua as a precaution.
• The aircraft performed an overweight landing but otherwise touched down safely on runway 07.
• No injuries or further complications were reported.
Investigation & Initial Findings
• The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is aware of the incident.
• Initial troubleshooting suggested a fault in the radar altimeter system, leading to false warnings.
• No black box data retrieval was reported at this stage.
• The Airbus A319 has previously recorded issues with radar altimeter interference, particularly in the presence of 5G signals, though this specific case remains under investigation.
Analysis & Safety Recommendations
• The incident highlights the potential operational impact of radar altimeter failures, particularly during critical flight phases.
• The successful use of circuit breaker isolation suggests an electrical fault as the primary cause.
• It is recommended that operators review radar altimeter performance logs and ensure crews are prepared for altimeter-related anomalies.
• Regulators may consider issuing updated guidance on managing radar altimeter failures, especially in aircraft reliant on these systems for automated landing functions.
Disclaimer
“This report is based on available information as of 19 February 2025. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the completeness of the details cannot be guaranteed. If you are the rightful owner of any referenced materials and wish them removed, please email takedown@cockpitking.com.”
