Super 80 descends below assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	318799
Time
Date	199510
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6700 msl bound upper : 7000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	318799
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	319030
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While being vectored by ord approach control I was trying to help my first officer with tips on how to best handle the flight guidance system and autothrottle system controls. Approaching 7000 ft we must have knocked the flight mode annunciator out of altitude hold and we descended past 7000 ft to 6700 ft. Approach controller did not say anything as we corrected quickly back to 7000 ft. Lesson learned here for me is the vigilance required of the captain when trying to help new first officer, especially while flying in a high workload environment. Helpful hints should be held to a minimum in these sits and do the rest on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SUPER 80 DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED BY ORD APCH CTL I WAS TRYING TO HELP MY FO WITH TIPS ON HOW TO BEST HANDLE THE FLT GUIDANCE SYS AND AUTOTHROTTLE SYS CTLS. APCHING 7000 FT WE MUST HAVE KNOCKED THE FLT MODE ANNUNCIATOR OUT OF ALT HOLD AND WE DSNDED PAST 7000 FT TO 6700 FT. APCH CTLR DID NOT SAY ANYTHING AS WE CORRECTED QUICKLY BACK TO 7000 FT. LESSON LEARNED HERE FOR ME IS THE VIGILANCE REQUIRED OF THE CAPT WHEN TRYING TO HELP NEW FO, ESPECIALLY WHILE FLYING IN A HIGH WORKLOAD ENVIRONMENT. HELPFUL HINTS SHOULD BE HELD TO A MINIMUM IN THESE SITS AND DO THE REST ON THE GND.

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.