MD80 flight crew fails to attain climb from FL290 to FL330 in the 4 min time frame allotted by ATC. PIC had selected 'performance' mode on pmc, the performance management computer, and it bled off the airspeed so that climb rate was too low. Controller allowed descent back to FL290.

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Attributes
ACN	363571
Time
Date	199703
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 32500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	363571
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	363570
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

On departure at FL290 with a request in for FL330, controller asked if we could climb to FL330 in 4 mins. I was working radios and answered yes. We were climbed to climb to FL330 within 4 mins. Performance (maximum climb) was selected to start the climb. This bled off too much airspeed too quickly and we had to advise the controller that we could not comply with the clearance. He directed us to return to and maintain FL290. He advised us that there was no conflict with crossing traffic 10 NM ahead. Highlights problem with performance (maximum climb) at high altitude as well as potential problems with accepting a clearance to climb with a time restr. Fortunately we did not conflict with crossing traffic. Supplemental information from acn 363570: performance immediately went for the slower airspeed resulting in too slow a speed to continue the climb.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC FAILS TO ATTAIN CLB FROM FL290 TO FL330 IN THE 4 MIN TIME FRAME ALLOTTED BY ATC. PIC HAD SELECTED 'PERFORMANCE' MODE ON PMC, THE PERFORMANCE MGMNT COMPUTER, AND IT BLED OFF THE AIRSPD SO THAT CLB RATE WAS TOO LOW. CTLR ALLOWED DSCNT BACK TO FL290.

Narrative: ON DEP AT FL290 WITH A REQUEST IN FOR FL330, CTLR ASKED IF WE COULD CLB TO FL330 IN 4 MINS. I WAS WORKING RADIOS AND ANSWERED YES. WE WERE CLBED TO CLB TO FL330 WITHIN 4 MINS. PERFORMANCE (MAX CLB) WAS SELECTED TO START THE CLB. THIS BLED OFF TOO MUCH AIRSPD TOO QUICKLY AND WE HAD TO ADVISE THE CTLR THAT WE COULD NOT COMPLY WITH THE CLRNC. HE DIRECTED US TO RETURN TO AND MAINTAIN FL290. HE ADVISED US THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH XING TFC 10 NM AHEAD. HIGHLIGHTS PROB WITH PERFORMANCE (MAX CLB) AT HIGH ALT AS WELL AS POTENTIAL PROBS WITH ACCEPTING A CLRNC TO CLB WITH A TIME RESTR. FORTUNATELY WE DID NOT CONFLICT WITH XING TFC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 363570: PERFORMANCE IMMEDIATELY WENT FOR THE SLOWER AIRSPD RESULTING IN TOO SLOW A SPD TO CONTINUE THE CLB.

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.