Captain of a fokker 100 (FK10) failed to descend as cleared until ATC intervened due to being preoccupied by reviewing the new clearance route and failure to activate the appropriate mode of FMS for immediate descent.

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Attributes
ACN	390558
Time
Date	199801
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vhp
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	390558
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	390060
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In cruise at FL290 we requested a descent for a better ride. The controller gave us the descent to FL270 and amended our clearance to proceed to points not on our flight plan. I set FL270 in the altitude window and pulled the set knob, then started to find the new points on the chart. We were both (captain and first officer) distraction for a moment. The first officer then called the controller for clarification on the navigation points. Shortly after the new route was entered and executed the controller asked if we had received our descent clearance. We were still at FL290. I had pulled the 'set' knob which initiates a vertical change in the 'flight change' mode. We were in 'profile' mode so it did not initiate the descent, it only armed FL270 for capture. We apologized and completed the descent to FL270. Lessons learned: be specific in assigning tasks to avoid being distraction. Eg, while I monitor the descent, have the PNF find the fix.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A FOKKER 100 (FK10) FAILED TO DSND AS CLRED UNTIL ATC INTERVENED DUE TO BEING PREOCCUPIED BY REVIEWING THE NEW CLRNC RTE AND FAILURE TO ACTIVATE THE APPROPRIATE MODE OF FMS FOR IMMEDIATE DSCNT.

Narrative: IN CRUISE AT FL290 WE REQUESTED A DSCNT FOR A BETTER RIDE. THE CTLR GAVE US THE DSCNT TO FL270 AND AMENDED OUR CLRNC TO PROCEED TO POINTS NOT ON OUR FLT PLAN. I SET FL270 IN THE ALT WINDOW AND PULLED THE SET KNOB, THEN STARTED TO FIND THE NEW POINTS ON THE CHART. WE WERE BOTH (CAPT AND FO) DISTR FOR A MOMENT. THE FO THEN CALLED THE CTLR FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE NAV POINTS. SHORTLY AFTER THE NEW RTE WAS ENTERED AND EXECUTED THE CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD RECEIVED OUR DSCNT CLRNC. WE WERE STILL AT FL290. I HAD PULLED THE 'SET' KNOB WHICH INITIATES A VERT CHANGE IN THE 'FLT CHANGE' MODE. WE WERE IN 'PROFILE' MODE SO IT DID NOT INITIATE THE DSCNT, IT ONLY ARMED FL270 FOR CAPTURE. WE APOLOGIZED AND COMPLETED THE DSCNT TO FL270. LESSONS LEARNED: BE SPECIFIC IN ASSIGNING TASKS TO AVOID BEING DISTR. EG, WHILE I MONITOR THE DSCNT, HAVE THE PNF FIND THE FIX.

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.