Date: 201906
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Weather elements / visibility: Rain; Turbulence; 3
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A319
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: APU Pneumatic System & Ducting
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Shortly after thrust reduction [the First Officer] asked 'Do you smell that'? I; at the same time; smelled a 'Dirty socks odor'. This is the 2nd time that in flight I have smelled this odor. [The First Officer] called the flight attendants and they reported the same odor FWD and Aft in the cabin. I told the [First Officer] to don his O2 mask and put mine on also. As I was the Pilot Flying; I handled ATC and flew while [the First Officer] contacted Dispatch through ACARS and sent a return to field message. I told ATC we needed to return to ZZZ and was quickly given a vector back to ZZZ. I noticed my mask's face shield was rather cloudy/dirty and hard to see out of. We returned fairly quickly. At 1;000 feet AGL I had to remove my mask in order to see well enough in order to land the aircraft. My mask was off for approximately 5 minutes. After clearing the runway and stopping I put my mask back on. We taxied to a gate where we were met by paramedics.After deplaning and speaking to paramedics on the jetway; I noticed several symptoms. I felt dizzy and lost my balance approximately 4 times; where I had to hold the wall of the jet way to steady myself. I could think of what I wanted to say but the word would not come out of my mouth. I could talk but not say exactly what I wanted to. I also had a sore throat. I felt disoriented and overwhelmed. I finally sat down on the edge of the jetway. I saw three men in suits standing together a little ways further up the jetway. None of them introduced themselves or offered any assistance. The whole crew was taken to [a local hospital] by ambulance. I was released approximately 5 hours later. I have had multiple health affects since that day. It was determined that the APU had an internal oil leak. The aircraft had another fume event on the line during passenger operations on a [recent flight]. This is an ongoing and known problem. This problem can be addressed by taking seriously the health risks caused by TCP (Tricresyl Phosphate) in the engine and APU oil. The Airbus aircraft have a high risk to the bleed air system because the APU air inlet is on the bottom of the aircraft and is easily able to ingest oil into the bleed air system where it is heated up and can enter the cabin and cockpit as a neurotoxin. To this day; I have no memory of actually landing the aircraft.




Synopsis: A319 Captain reported a fumes event shortly after takeoff which resulted in an uneventful return to departure airport. Captain experienced physiological issues which were treated at local hospital.