Nacelle Overheat — NACELLE TEMP advisory 260 °C, Bleed-Leak Cause, Fire-Zone Relation
Air Bleed gave the three fire zones and bleed cooling of the nacelle; Engine Indicating shows NACELLE TEMP (advisory 260 °C). This article covers nacelle overheat: monitoring, the advisory, the cause (bleed leak), and the relation to the fire zones / ENG FIRE.
1. Nacelle-temperature monitoring
NACELLE TEMPERATURE INDICATION — Green: The nacelle temperature is normal. Pulses green: The nacelle temperature goes above the advisory limit, that corresponds to the white dash. The advisory limit is 260 °C.
Per DSC-70-90-40: NACELLE TEMP is green normal, and pulses green above the advisory limit (the white dash) of 260 °C. It is shown on the ENG SD (10), scale to 350 °C — an advisory (pulsing green).
2. Cause — a bleed leak
[!note]- Nacelle overheat usually comes from a bleed leak (synthesis, from 08) 08: bleed cools the engine compartment, each of the three fire zones fed a calibrated airflow. The nacelle carries hot bleed ducts; a bleed-duct leak → hot air into the nacelle → nacelle overheat. This is the most common cause (related to ATA 36 bleed-leak detection). A nacelle overheat can also precede a fire → adjacent to 12 ENG FIRE.
3. Handling (advisory → severe)
| Level | Indication / alert | Handling direction |
|---|---|---|
| Advisory | NACELLE TEMP pulsing green (> 260 °C advisory) | monitor / watch the trend |
| Severe | NAC OVHT-class alert | LAND ASAP + shutdown (THR IDLE / MASTER OFF closes LP+HP valves) + possibly ENG FIRE pb |
[!note]- Why a severe nacelle overheat shuts down + possibly ENG FIRE pb (boundary) The severe-overheat direction includes LAND ASAP + shutdown (MASTER OFF closing the LP/HP valves) + possibly the ENG FIRE pb (cut bleed/fuel, isolate the heat source — 12's 8 actions) — because nacelle overheat may be a bleed leak / fire and the heat source must be cut. The full ENG NAC OVHT ECAM steps are in PRO-ABN-ENG (the advisory 260 °C is the verbatim value; the severe handling gives the direction, with the exact steps in the manual).
4. Counterintuitive point
[!warning]- Nacelle overheat is usually a bleed leak, and handling can escalate to ENG FIRE pb Nacelle overheat ≠ internal engine overtemperature (EGT) — it is the nacelle (outside the engine, inside the cowl) space overheating, usually from a bleed-duct leak (08); severe handling includes shutdown + possibly ENG FIRE pb to cut the heat source (bleed/fuel), as it can precede a fire.
Self-test
[!note]- Q1. The NACELLE TEMP advisory limit and display? 260 °C, pulsing green (the white dash); scale to 350 °C.
[!note]- Q2. The common cause of nacelle overheat? A bleed-duct leak (hot air into the nacelle, from 08's bleed cooling); can also precede a fire.
[!note]- Q3. The severe-overheat handling direction? LAND ASAP + shutdown (THR IDLE / MASTER OFF) + possibly ENG FIRE pb (cut the heat source; full steps in PRO-ABN-ENG).
Key takeaways
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| NACELLE TEMP | advisory 260 °C pulsing green; scale 350 °C |
| Cause | usually a bleed leak (08); may precede a fire |
| Severe | LAND ASAP + shutdown + possibly ENG FIRE pb (cut heat source) |
References
- FCOM DSC-70-90-40 (10) — NACELLE TEMP advisory 260 °C pulsing green / scale 350 °C.
- FCOM PRO-ABN-ENG — severe nacelle-overheat handling direction (LAND ASAP + shutdown + possibly ENG FIRE pb; full steps to be checked).
- FCOM DSC-70-60 / AMM-75-21 (08) — bleed cooling of the nacelle / three fire zones (overheat cause background).
Independent study material, not an Airbus publication and not endorsed by the manufacturer. Always defer to the current operator FCOM, FCTM, and QRH for operational use.