PIC on widebody transport aircraft fails to insure that his FMC driven autoplt makes an altitude crossing restr. PIC's inattn to duty is not noted by first officer who, too late, asks captain about their descent profile. Crew advises ATC of situation.

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Attributes
ACN	380220
Time
Date	199709
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crl airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : dtw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 175
ASRS Report	380220
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While descending in VNAV mode with autoplt coupled on the mizar arrival to dtw, I noticed FMS CDU showing 5 mi short (meaning under glide profile) to mizar intersection, crossing restr 12000 ft. We were about 20 mi to go, passing FL190. I got distraction until first officer stated 'are we going to make the crossing?' I saw the FMS now said we were 12 mi long (above profile) and only 5 mi to go. I asked the first officer to tell approach we were going to be long at mizar. Approach asked if we were descending to 12000 ft. We replied in the affirmative. The speed brakes were extended and we were descending as quickly as possible. We crossed mizar about 13500 ft and soon leveled at 12000 ft close to mizar. Approach never said anything further.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC ON WDB ACFT FAILS TO INSURE THAT HIS FMC DRIVEN AUTOPLT MAKES AN ALT XING RESTR. PIC'S INATTN TO DUTY IS NOT NOTED BY FO WHO, TOO LATE, ASKS CAPT ABOUT THEIR DSCNT PROFILE. CREW ADVISES ATC OF SIT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING IN VNAV MODE WITH AUTOPLT COUPLED ON THE MIZAR ARR TO DTW, I NOTICED FMS CDU SHOWING 5 MI SHORT (MEANING UNDER GLIDE PROFILE) TO MIZAR INTXN, XING RESTR 12000 FT. WE WERE ABOUT 20 MI TO GO, PASSING FL190. I GOT DISTR UNTIL FO STATED 'ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THE XING?' I SAW THE FMS NOW SAID WE WERE 12 MI LONG (ABOVE PROFILE) AND ONLY 5 MI TO GO. I ASKED THE FO TO TELL APCH WE WERE GOING TO BE LONG AT MIZAR. APCH ASKED IF WE WERE DSNDING TO 12000 FT. WE REPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THE SPD BRAKES WERE EXTENDED AND WE WERE DSNDING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE CROSSED MIZAR ABOUT 13500 FT AND SOON LEVELED AT 12000 FT CLOSE TO MIZAR. APCH NEVER SAID ANYTHING FURTHER.

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.