Narrative:

When talking to ZAU (135.27), we were told 'we need you out of FL270 now,' and either 'expedite' or 'give me your best rate' to FL330. Between FL340 and FL330 3 events took place: asked again to 'expedite,' center frequency change to 132.72, a confusing discussion took place between the first officer, second officer and a check airman as to how much we would weigh for our mke landing. I looked to see what our fuel qty was and made a comment to the others as to how to figure the weight. When I returned to scan the instrument panel, we were passing approximately FL330 at flight idle power and descending between 2000-3000 FPM. I realized immediately an altitude bust was probable and decided in the best interests of passenger and cabin crew to not abruptly pull up the nose and apply full power. I assertively adjusted aircraft pitch and then applied climb power to regain FL330. Shortly thereafter on the new frequency we were advised of a possible deviation and asked if we had descended below FL330. We replied in the affirmative. We were then advised to call center on the phone. I did so when time permitted and spoke briefly with the supervisor and working controller (132.72). He stated the ATC quality control people would review the 'informal incident' for a possible violation. He also stated to me we were doing ATC a favor at the time by descending at a higher than standard rate of descent. Lastly, he indicated he tried to alert us, but we had not come up on the new frequency yet.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT IN DESCENT. LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION OCCURRED.

Narrative: WHEN TALKING TO ZAU (135.27), WE WERE TOLD 'WE NEED YOU OUT OF FL270 NOW,' AND EITHER 'EXPEDITE' OR 'GIVE ME YOUR BEST RATE' TO FL330. BTWN FL340 AND FL330 3 EVENTS TOOK PLACE: ASKED AGAIN TO 'EXPEDITE,' CENTER FREQ CHANGE TO 132.72, A CONFUSING DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE BTWN THE F/O, S/O AND A CHK AIRMAN AS TO HOW MUCH WE WOULD WEIGH FOR OUR MKE LNDG. I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT OUR FUEL QTY WAS AND MADE A COMMENT TO THE OTHERS AS TO HOW TO FIGURE THE WT. WHEN I RETURNED TO SCAN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WE WERE PASSING APPROX FL330 AT FLT IDLE PWR AND DSNDING BTWN 2000-3000 FPM. I REALIZED IMMEDIATELY AN ALT BUST WAS PROBABLE AND DECIDED IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF PAX AND CABIN CREW TO NOT ABRUPTLY PULL UP THE NOSE AND APPLY FULL PWR. I ASSERTIVELY ADJUSTED ACFT PITCH AND THEN APPLIED CLB PWR TO REGAIN FL330. SHORTLY THEREAFTER ON THE NEW FREQ WE WERE ADVISED OF A POSSIBLE DEVIATION AND ASKED IF WE HAD DSNDED BELOW FL330. WE REPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. WE WERE THEN ADVISED TO CALL CENTER ON THE PHONE. I DID SO WHEN TIME PERMITTED AND SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH THE SUPVR AND WORKING CTLR (132.72). HE STATED THE ATC QUALITY CONTROL PEOPLE WOULD REVIEW THE 'INFORMAL INCIDENT' FOR A POSSIBLE VIOLATION. HE ALSO STATED TO ME WE WERE DOING ATC A FAVOR AT THE TIME BY DSNDING AT A HIGHER THAN STANDARD RATE OF DSCNT. LASTLY, HE INDICATED HE TRIED TO ALERT US, BUT WE HAD NOT COME UP ON THE NEW FREQ YET.

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.