Double aircraft equipment problem and an altitude deviation altitude overshot during descent.

Attributes
ACN	297989
Time
Date	199503
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21500 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	297989
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	297874
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During an immediate return to mccarran international airport, the aircraft deviated 500 ft (plus) from assigned altitude. Our clearance was: pilot's discretion to FL240 initially. While descending to FL240 we were cleared to FL220. The autoplt was engaged and altitude engage was armed in the descent. (Altitude arm will automatically level the aircraft at the selected altitude FL220 was selected). The deviation was noticed at approximately 21500 ft and we quickly climbed back to FL220. During this situation we were running the procedures for loss of hydraulic system a which added distractions to the cockpit. The autoplt had repeatedly been written up for its inability to maintain altitude. Supplemental information from acn 297874: in my briefing I told the first officer to continue to fly the aircraft and I would work with the engineer with the checklist. When I looked up at the altimeter we were almost at 800 ft over assigned altitude. At this point I took control of the aircraft and had the first officer work with the flight engineer with the checklist. I also climbed up back to our assigned altitude of 22000 ft. We landed back at las with having to crank the gear down and used the alternate means to get the flaps down. We were towed off the runway and towed back to the terminal. The aircraft was a (B727- 200). The first officer was new with the company new with the aircraft, new to heavy jets, and had under 150 hours total in B727 aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DOUBLE ACFT EQUIP PROB AND AN ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT DURING DSCNT.

Narrative: DURING AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO MCCARRAN INTL ARPT, THE ACFT DEVIATED 500 FT (PLUS) FROM ASSIGNED ALT. OUR CLRNC WAS: PLT'S DISCRETION TO FL240 INITIALLY. WHILE DSNDING TO FL240 WE WERE CLRED TO FL220. THE AUTOPLT WAS ENGAGED AND ALT ENGAGE WAS ARMED IN THE DSCNT. (ALT ARM WILL AUTOMATICALLY LEVEL THE ACFT AT THE SELECTED ALT FL220 WAS SELECTED). THE DEV WAS NOTICED AT APPROX 21500 FT AND WE QUICKLY CLBED BACK TO FL220. DURING THIS SIT WE WERE RUNNING THE PROCS FOR LOSS OF HYD SYS A WHICH ADDED DISTRACTIONS TO THE COCKPIT. THE AUTOPLT HAD REPEATEDLY BEEN WRITTEN UP FOR ITS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 297874: IN MY BRIEFING I TOLD THE FO TO CONTINUE TO FLY THE ACFT AND I WOULD WORK WITH THE ENGINEER WITH THE CHKLIST. WHEN I LOOKED UP AT THE ALTIMETER WE WERE ALMOST AT 800 FT OVER ASSIGNED ALT. AT THIS POINT I TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT AND HAD THE FO WORK WITH THE FE WITH THE CHKLIST. I ALSO CLBED UP BACK TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 22000 FT. WE LANDED BACK AT LAS WITH HAVING TO CRANK THE GEAR DOWN AND USED THE ALTERNATE MEANS TO GET THE FLAPS DOWN. WE WERE TOWED OFF THE RWY AND TOWED BACK TO THE TERMINAL. THE ACFT WAS A (B727- 200). THE FO WAS NEW WITH THE COMPANY NEW WITH THE ACFT, NEW TO HEAVY JETS, AND HAD UNDER 150 HRS TOTAL IN B727 ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.