Narrative:

Flight was inbound to sdf. As a result of thunderstorm activity at the airport and surrounding area, our flight was given vectors and clrncs to 2 different fixes. Mystic (mys) VOR, (southwest of sdf) and cheri intersection (northwest of sdf) on the iiu 279 degree radial, 45 DME, we were inbound from the west and were finally cleared back to cheri, maintain 250 KTS. Within 20 mi of cheri a holding clearance was received to 'hold as published.' (non-standard pattern) the aircraft is equipped with dual FMC's. Holding pattern was built on the FMC/EFIS display, but a standard (right turns) holding pattern was displayed. Due to the WX, precipitation and turbulence, I was busy flying the airplane (250 KIAS, reducing to 210 KTS for hold) at 11000 ft, wind out of the west at about 30 KTS. GS displayed about 290 KTS to 240 KTS. I did not get a chance to verify the PNF's entry and therefore executed a parallel entry into the holding pattern rather than the 'aim' recommended entry 'direct entry.' I discovered the error on the outbound leg of the entry to the hold and re-entered the correct holding pattern. As we turned inbound to the fix to begin the first turn into the hold, ATC issued radar vectors to us and other aircraft for sequencing into sdf. Therefore, we never were established in the holding pattern. No comment or advisory was made by sdf approach and no traffic was ever called us. As far as I know, we stayed within the holding pattern protected airspace. Other aircraft were also entering the hold at cheri at higher altitudes, from different directions, and executing different entries. The rest of the flight inbound to sdf was normal, additional vectors were received from sdf approach, around WX and for sequencing to the final approach segment.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOLDING PROC -- ACR ENTERS THE HOLDING PATTERN INCORRECTLY DUE TO IMPROPER FMC INPUTS.

Narrative: FLT WAS INBOUND TO SDF. AS A RESULT OF TSTM ACTIVITY AT THE ARPT AND SURROUNDING AREA, OUR FLT WAS GIVEN VECTORS AND CLRNCS TO 2 DIFFERENT FIXES. MYSTIC (MYS) VOR, (SW OF SDF) AND CHERI INTXN (NW OF SDF) ON THE IIU 279 DEG RADIAL, 45 DME, WE WERE INBOUND FROM THE W AND WERE FINALLY CLRED BACK TO CHERI, MAINTAIN 250 KTS. WITHIN 20 MI OF CHERI A HOLDING CLRNC WAS RECEIVED TO 'HOLD AS PUBLISHED.' (NON-STANDARD PATTERN) THE ACFT IS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FMC'S. HOLDING PATTERN WAS BUILT ON THE FMC/EFIS DISPLAY, BUT A STANDARD (R TURNS) HOLDING PATTERN WAS DISPLAYED. DUE TO THE WX, PRECIPITATION AND TURB, I WAS BUSY FLYING THE AIRPLANE (250 KIAS, REDUCING TO 210 KTS FOR HOLD) AT 11000 FT, WIND OUT OF THE W AT ABOUT 30 KTS. GS DISPLAYED ABOUT 290 KTS TO 240 KTS. I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO VERIFY THE PNF'S ENTRY AND THEREFORE EXECUTED A PARALLEL ENTRY INTO THE HOLDING PATTERN RATHER THAN THE 'AIM' RECOMMENDED ENTRY 'DIRECT ENTRY.' I DISCOVERED THE ERROR ON THE OUTBOUND LEG OF THE ENTRY TO THE HOLD AND RE-ENTERED THE CORRECT HOLDING PATTERN. AS WE TURNED INBOUND TO THE FIX TO BEGIN THE FIRST TURN INTO THE HOLD, ATC ISSUED RADAR VECTORS TO US AND OTHER ACFT FOR SEQUENCING INTO SDF. THEREFORE, WE NEVER WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE HOLDING PATTERN. NO COMMENT OR ADVISORY WAS MADE BY SDF APCH AND NO TFC WAS EVER CALLED US. AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE STAYED WITHIN THE HOLDING PATTERN PROTECTED AIRSPACE. OTHER ACFT WERE ALSO ENTERING THE HOLD AT CHERI AT HIGHER ALTS, FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, AND EXECUTING DIFFERENT ENTRIES. THE REST OF THE FLT INBOUND TO SDF WAS NORMAL, ADDITIONAL VECTORS WERE RECEIVED FROM SDF APCH, AROUND WX AND FOR SEQUENCING TO THE FINAL APCH SEGMENT.

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.