Date: 202101
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.TRACON, US
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Fumes on flight ZZZ-ZZZ1.  This report is to highlight the procedures used to resolve fume events. It isn't to report the fume event. In summary; after the flight and cabin crew smelled fumes during flight and after landing; Maintenance worked to resolve the problem. After performing various procedures; Maintenance said the problem was fixed three separate times. Each time; the flight and cabin crew pointed out that the fumes were still present. Even so; a manager from another department was brought in to see if she smelled any fumes-she did not. So; as the maintenance policy allows; the aircraft was returned to service; overruling six professional and very experienced flight and cabin crewmembers' specific and detailed descriptions of the characteristics of the still present fumes' smell; the locations in the flight deck and cabin where the fumes were detected and the air supply vent locations from which the fumes were emanating. Approximately an hour later; a flight crew reassigned to ferry the aircraft to ZZZ2 started the #1 Engine; smelled the fumes and refused the aircraft. The fume event began during descent below at 5;000 ft.; at 15 miles from ZZZ1 airport when I noticed musty smelling fumes on the flight deck coming from the eyeball vents on both the overhead and instrument panels. I recognized the smell from previous experience (along with information supplied by both Air Carrier and the Pilots Association); as being from petroleum based fluid being heated and entering the air conditioning system. Being close to the ground and landing; I wanted to find a solution quickly so I closed the flight deck vents to see if there was any change. There was not; so I reopened them thinking that if the fumes were transient that air flow might move the fumes through and off of the flight deck. I also started to feel slightly nauseated so I donned my O2 mask. After donning my O2 mask the nauseated feeling subsided somewhat. Landing was made without incident. At taxi speed I opened my window; turned off the air conditioning packs and taxied to the gate. I then spoke with the flight attendants to see if any of them had smelled the fumes. The flight attendant at Door 3L said that shortly before landing some passengers asked him about a smell in the area. Once they had pointed it out; he said he had then smelled the fumes. No other flight attendants reported smelling the fumes at their jumpseat locations during flight. I wrote up the fumes in the AML (Aircraft Maintenance Logs); then completed and submitted a smoke; odor; fume form. When Maintenance arrived I described the smell of the fumes to them. None of the mechanics with whom I spoke (four I believe); smelled the fumes. From then until when the flight was cancelled at XA:00; one mechanic (of the four); acknowledged that he smelled the fumes 'slightly' and only one time. During this time; Maintenance completed procedure(s) three separate times and after each time said that they didn't smell the fumes and wanted to sign off the AML. Each time; my flight and cabin crew pointed out the smell of the fumes in the cabin and flight deck; so Maintenance continued their procedures. At some point after those three attempts to resolve the problem; one mechanic told me that the aircraft was going to be there until at least XB:00 that day. Soon after that; a manager from another department was asked to walk through the cabin and see if she smelled the fumes.  After a bit I checked my schedule and saw that we were reassigned to take that same aircraft back to ZZZ at XC:00 on [Date]. That was consistent with the last I heard from the mechanic who said the aircraft was going to be there until at least XB:00 that night. Around XD:00; I saw that another crew had been reassigned to fly our aircraft to ZZZ2 at XE:00. I texted the Captain on that flight to be sure he was aware of the seriousness of the problem. He replied; stating that after they had started the #1 Engine; the fumes returned. He did not accept the aircraft. I then called [Pilots Association] Safety for some guidance. I am concerned because; despite all the procedures in place to determine whether the source of the fumes is eliminated; the methods to determine whether the fumes are present or remain:1. Expose maintenance personnel and possibly other people to the fumes and their potential harmful effects (isn't that what we're trying to avoid?).2. Allow using the olfactory senses of random individuals that; (a) may not be able to detect the smell of the fumes; (b) have never smelled the fumes and/or; (c) have no knowledge of the seriousness of the smoke; odor and fume events and their potential and documented health threats.3. Allow the complaints and input of those that do smell the fumes to be ignored or overruled by any randomly chosen person that does not smell them. It seems that the goal should be that if just one person still smells the fumes; the problem isn't solved and the aircraft won't be released to flight status.




Synopsis: A321 Captain reported recurring fume events which have resulted in flight crew experiencing physiological symptoms. Reporter questioned whether maintenance corrective actions are in need of review.