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Captain of an air carrier large transport fails to insure that his FMS starts the descent for an altitude crossing restr.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 397243 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199803 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ott |
| State Reference | MD |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 29000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| 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 : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 500 |
| ASRS Report | 397243 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 85 flight time total : 6200 flight time type : 45 |
| ASRS Report | 397240 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : insufficient time |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
We had been cleared from FL370 to FL290 and the autoplt/FMS was engaged and making the descent. Upon leveloff the flight attendants came into the cockpit to offer beverages. During the leveloff the FMS mode changed from VNAV to altitude hold. As evidenced by later events, I did not notice the FMS mode change. Shortly after leveling at FL290 we were cleared to cross ott VOR at FL250. I programmed the FMS and set the altitude alert window for the crossing restr. Later, when I should've been starting the descent I was enjoying the view out the window and lost situational awareness. I did not start the descent. VNAV, which I normally only rely upon as a backup for dscnts could not start us down because the FMS had previously changed to altitude hold. As a result of the distractions and loss of situational awareness I did not start the descent until almost over ott VOR. The first officer asked if we were supposed to cross at FL250, whereupon I began an immediate descent. We crossed ott at least several thousand ft high. Apparently there was no conflicting traffic in the area (at least as far as we could tell from TCASII) and the controller said nothing about the crossing altitude. It has been several yrs, at least, since I've had an altitude 'bust.' fortunately, I will be able to learn from this event and pay better attention in the future.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CAPT OF AN ACR LGT FAILS TO INSURE THAT HIS FMS STARTS THE DSCNT FOR AN ALT XING RESTR.
Narrative: WE HAD BEEN CLRED FROM FL370 TO FL290 AND THE AUTOPLT/FMS WAS ENGAGED AND MAKING THE DSCNT. UPON LEVELOFF THE FLT ATTENDANTS CAME INTO THE COCKPIT TO OFFER BEVERAGES. DURING THE LEVELOFF THE FMS MODE CHANGED FROM VNAV TO ALT HOLD. AS EVIDENCED BY LATER EVENTS, I DID NOT NOTICE THE FMS MODE CHANGE. SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING AT FL290 WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS OTT VOR AT FL250. I PROGRAMMED THE FMS AND SET THE ALT ALERT WINDOW FOR THE XING RESTR. LATER, WHEN I SHOULD'VE BEEN STARTING THE DSCNT I WAS ENJOYING THE VIEW OUT THE WINDOW AND LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. I DID NOT START THE DSCNT. VNAV, WHICH I NORMALLY ONLY RELY UPON AS A BACKUP FOR DSCNTS COULD NOT START US DOWN BECAUSE THE FMS HAD PREVIOUSLY CHANGED TO ALT HOLD. AS A RESULT OF THE DISTRACTIONS AND LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS I DID NOT START THE DSCNT UNTIL ALMOST OVER OTT VOR. THE FO ASKED IF WE WERE SUPPOSED TO CROSS AT FL250, WHEREUPON I BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT. WE CROSSED OTT AT LEAST SEVERAL THOUSAND FT HIGH. APPARENTLY THERE WAS NO CONFLICTING TFC IN THE AREA (AT LEAST AS FAR AS WE COULD TELL FROM TCASII) AND THE CTLR SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE XING ALT. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YRS, AT LEAST, SINCE I'VE HAD AN ALT 'BUST.' FORTUNATELY, I WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN FROM THIS EVENT AND PAY BETTER ATTN IN THE FUTURE.
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.