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ZLA instructor and developmental controllers report a loss of separation due to an aircraft that had an autopilot failure. The aircraft advised ATC and the developmental descended the aircraft out of rvsm airspace; but ended up less than the required 5 miles away from another aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1329558 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201501 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZLA.ARTCC |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute Instructor |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 14 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Enroute Trainee |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Developmental |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 0 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
I was providing training on sector 37 when the event occurred. Aircraft X was at FL330 on course for pxr and aircraft Y at FL340 was direct hec. The two aircraft were in level flight when they crossed each other by the required 1000 ft separation between two rvsm qualified aircraft and crew. While they were within 5 miles lateral of each other aircraft X reported that they had just lost their autopilot and were now non-rvsm. My trainee then descended the aircraft X out of the rvsm airspace and updated the flight plan to reflect non-rvsm status. However; due to the aircraft proximity we had a loss of separation due to the loss of autopilot by the aircraft X. No suggestions; there is nothing that can foresee an equipment malfunction to avoid such an event from happening again.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZLA Instructor and Developmental Controllers report a loss of separation due to an aircraft that had an autopilot failure. The aircraft advised ATC and the Developmental descended the aircraft out of RVSM airspace; but ended up less than the required 5 miles away from another aircraft.
Narrative: I was providing training on sector 37 when the event occurred. Aircraft X was at FL330 on course for PXR and Aircraft Y at FL340 was direct HEC. The two aircraft were in level flight when they crossed each other by the required 1000 ft separation between two RVSM qualified aircraft and crew. While they were within 5 miles lateral of each other Aircraft X reported that they had just lost their autopilot and were now NON-RVSM. My trainee then descended the Aircraft X out of the RVSM Airspace and updated the flight plan to reflect non-RVSM status. However; due to the aircraft proximity we had a loss of separation due to the loss of autopilot by the Aircraft X. No suggestions; there is nothing that can foresee an equipment malfunction to avoid such an event from happening again.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.