Air carrier widebody transport altitude deviation overshot during climb.

Attributes
ACN	106927
Time
Date	198903
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 20000
ASRS Report	106927
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	106826
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This was my second actual flight training ride in this type widebody transport which was first widebody transport delivered to airline about a month ago. The clearance for climb out was maintain 13000' and 250 KTS till further advised. VNAV was selected after takeoff and I flew manually using flight director. Flight director command pitch attitude of 2000' plus climb rate and in this mode maintains pitch angle until about 300-400' before reaching target altitude. After passing 10000' as I was reprogramming the FMC to maintain 250 KTS. The aircraft approached 13000' and first officer abruptly commanded level off pitch attitude. Noting this I started level off. This has to be done smoothly because of aircraft size (length 231') and passenger comfort. By initiating level off 400' before desired altitude a smooth level off required about 1000'. Normal airline procedure is climb at 500 FPM last 1000'. I am suggesting to our technical department we reprogram FMC's to command 500 FPM climb last 1000'. The instrument pilot, performing first officer duties, concurs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMB.

Narrative: THIS WAS MY SECOND ACTUAL FLT TRNING RIDE IN THIS TYPE WDB WHICH WAS FIRST WDB DELIVERED TO AIRLINE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE CLRNC FOR CLBOUT WAS MAINTAIN 13000' AND 250 KTS TILL FURTHER ADVISED. VNAV WAS SELECTED AFTER TKOF AND I FLEW MANUALLY USING FLT DIRECTOR. FLT DIRECTOR COMMAND PITCH ATTITUDE OF 2000' PLUS CLB RATE AND IN THIS MODE MAINTAINS PITCH ANGLE UNTIL ABOUT 300-400' BEFORE REACHING TARGET ALT. AFTER PASSING 10000' AS I WAS REPROGRAMMING THE FMC TO MAINTAIN 250 KTS. THE ACFT APCHED 13000' AND F/O ABRUPTLY COMMANDED LEVEL OFF PITCH ATTITUDE. NOTING THIS I STARTED LEVEL OFF. THIS HAS TO BE DONE SMOOTHLY BECAUSE OF ACFT SIZE (LENGTH 231') AND PAX COMFORT. BY INITIATING LEVEL OFF 400' BEFORE DESIRED ALT A SMOOTH LEVEL OFF REQUIRED ABOUT 1000'. NORMAL AIRLINE PROC IS CLB AT 500 FPM LAST 1000'. I AM SUGGESTING TO OUR TECHNICAL DEPT WE REPROGRAM FMC'S TO COMMAND 500 FPM CLB LAST 1000'. THE INSTR PLT, PERFORMING F/O DUTIES, CONCURS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.