B737-300 aircraft in descent with crossing restr altitude, PF, captain using vertical speed on FMS w...

Attributes
ACN	397152
Time
Date	199803
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dqo
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 132 flight time total : 4968 flight time type : 975
ASRS Report	397152
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were established on the minks one arrival for lga, at a cruise altitude of FL290. Clearance was received to cross kerno at FL260, standard for this arrival. Just southwest of kerno I told the captain that I would be off frequency for a few mins to get ATIS and talk to company operations. (We had begun a slow descent just about this time -- captain selected vertical speed mode at a very low rate.) it took me several mins to complete my communications business. When I looked up, I was startled to see that we were only 2 mi or so from kerno, 2000 ft or so high, and descending at 300 FPM in vertical speed mode. The captain was absorbed in filling out his logbook for the trip. I told ATC we would not make our crossing restr, and we were reclred to a lower altitude, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. I think this situation clearly resulted from the distraction of both crew members at the same time. The PF needs to be extra vigilant when the PNF is temporarily out of the loop. In retrospect, this was a very poor time to start working on a trip log. As a contributing factor, the descent was made in vertical speed mode. This took away the protection of crossing restrs which was already programmed into the FMC if VNAV were used. I am not sure why PF selected vertical speed for this descent (though none of us use VNAV exclusively). In later discussion we agreed it was not the best choice in this case. I really try hard to stay up with the situation, even when copying ATIS, etc. It is not always easy, but I will be re-doubling my efforts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 ACFT IN DSCNT WITH XING RESTR ALT, PF, CAPT USING VERT SPD ON FMS WITH A SHALLOW DSCNT RATE, MISSED XING RESTR BY 2000 FT. RPTR FO WAS NOT IN THE LOOP OBTAINING ATIS AND COM WITH COMPANY.

Narrative: WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE MINKS ONE ARR FOR LGA, AT A CRUISE ALT OF FL290. CLRNC WAS RECEIVED TO CROSS KERNO AT FL260, STANDARD FOR THIS ARR. JUST SW OF KERNO I TOLD THE CAPT THAT I WOULD BE OFF FREQ FOR A FEW MINS TO GET ATIS AND TALK TO COMPANY OPS. (WE HAD BEGUN A SLOW DSCNT JUST ABOUT THIS TIME -- CAPT SELECTED VERT SPD MODE AT A VERY LOW RATE.) IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MINS TO COMPLETE MY COMS BUSINESS. WHEN I LOOKED UP, I WAS STARTLED TO SEE THAT WE WERE ONLY 2 MI OR SO FROM KERNO, 2000 FT OR SO HIGH, AND DSNDING AT 300 FPM IN VERT SPD MODE. THE CAPT WAS ABSORBED IN FILLING OUT HIS LOGBOOK FOR THE TRIP. I TOLD ATC WE WOULD NOT MAKE OUR XING RESTR, AND WE WERE RECLRED TO A LOWER ALT, AND THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. I THINK THIS SIT CLRLY RESULTED FROM THE DISTR OF BOTH CREW MEMBERS AT THE SAME TIME. THE PF NEEDS TO BE EXTRA VIGILANT WHEN THE PNF IS TEMPORARILY OUT OF THE LOOP. IN RETROSPECT, THIS WAS A VERY POOR TIME TO START WORKING ON A TRIP LOG. AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, THE DSCNT WAS MADE IN VERT SPD MODE. THIS TOOK AWAY THE PROTECTION OF XING RESTRS WHICH WAS ALREADY PROGRAMMED INTO THE FMC IF VNAV WERE USED. I AM NOT SURE WHY PF SELECTED VERT SPD FOR THIS DSCNT (THOUGH NONE OF US USE VNAV EXCLUSIVELY). IN LATER DISCUSSION WE AGREED IT WAS NOT THE BEST CHOICE IN THIS CASE. I REALLY TRY HARD TO STAY UP WITH THE SIT, EVEN WHEN COPYING ATIS, ETC. IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT I WILL BE RE-DOUBLING MY EFFORTS.

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.

B737-300 aircraft in descent with crossing restr altitude, PF, captain using vertical speed on FMS with a shallow descent rate, missed crossing restr by 2000 ft. Reporter first officer was not in the loop obtaining ATIS and communication with company.