MD11 flight crew reported descending below their assigned altitude of 3000 feet prior to reaching li...

Attributes
ACN	1382019
Time
Date	201608
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	VHHH.Airport
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	STAR SIERA 7A
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	MCP
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 6000 Flight Crew Type 1000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 182 Flight Crew Total 7500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Descending into vhhh; on the siera 7A arrival; given a descent to 6000 and direct limes when able. We were proceeding to silva per original clearance. Once we got below approximately 10;000 ft we were given 3000 ft cleared for the ILS 07L via tonic. I asked the first officer to set 2000 ft in the altitude window since we were cleared for the approach and 2000 ft was the next (tomic) altitude. We were approx. 3-4 miles from limes when I started down out of 3000 ft. At approximately 2650 ft ATC told us to remain at 3000 ft. I disconnected the autopilot and climbed back to 3000 ft. The rest of the approach was normal. There was no altitude on the approach plate for limes; all I saw was the 'at or above 2000 ft' for tonic in the FMS and the 2000 ft on the approach plate. I didn't realize that limes was the IAF. I know that we couldn't descend below the clearance altitude until establish inside the IAF. I just missed it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD11 flight crew reported descending below their assigned altitude of 3000 feet prior to reaching LIMES (IAF) after being cleared for the ILS Runway 7L approach to VHHH. ATC detected the error and issued a climb back to 3000 feet. Fatigue was cited as a factor in the incident.

Narrative: Descending into VHHH; on the SIERA 7A arrival; given a descent to 6000 and direct LIMES when able. We were proceeding to SILVA per original clearance. Once we got below approximately 10;000 ft we were given 3000 ft cleared for the ILS 07L via TONIC. I asked the FO to set 2000 ft in the Altitude window since we were cleared for the approach and 2000 ft was the next (TOMIC) altitude. We were approx. 3-4 miles from LIMES when I started down out of 3000 ft. At approximately 2650 ft ATC told us to remain at 3000 ft. I disconnected the autopilot and climbed back to 3000 ft. The rest of the approach was normal. There was no altitude on the approach plate for LIMES; all I saw was the 'at or above 2000 ft' for TONIC in the FMS and the 2000 ft on the approach plate. I didn't realize that LIMES was the IAF. I know that we couldn't descend below the clearance altitude until establish inside the IAF. I just missed it.

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.

MD11 flight crew reported descending below their assigned altitude of 3000 feet prior to reaching limes (IAF) after being cleared for the ILS runway 7L approach to vhhh. ATC detected the error and issued a climb back to 3000 feet. Fatigue was cited as a factor in the incident.