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A B747-400 flight crew descends to 700 ft below assigned altitude when they fail to reset their altimeter to local qnh 29 pt 20 from 29 pt 92.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 400050 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199804 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : spl airport : ams |
| State Reference | FO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dawn |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : ams |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B747-400 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach descent other |
| Route In Use | arrival other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 400050 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 6500 |
| ASRS Report | 399828 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation other |
Narrative:
Cleared to descend from 7000 ft to 3000 ft, which was the IAF altitude and cleared for approach (ILS runway 6). Altimeter setting 989 hecto pascals, 29.20 inches. Approach control or ATIS did not inform us of transition level. Transition altitude is 3000 ft. We leveled off at FL30 for 30 seconds. We then noticed we still had qne (29.92) still set. We had leveled off low. We then climbed back to 3000 ft on proper qnh. The descent had been rushed as it always is going into ams. Had a medical problem at same time that added to confusion. No comment was made by ATC or us over radio or otherwise. Supplemental information from acn 399828: recommend that transition levels and altitudes be standardized the world over or, if not feasible, be at altitudes above 10000 ft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B747-400 FLC DSNDS TO 700 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT WHEN THEY FAIL TO RESET THEIR ALTIMETER TO LCL QNH 29 PT 20 FROM 29 PT 92.
Narrative: CLRED TO DSND FROM 7000 FT TO 3000 FT, WHICH WAS THE IAF ALT AND CLRED FOR APCH (ILS RWY 6). ALTIMETER SETTING 989 HECTO PASCALS, 29.20 INCHES. APCH CTL OR ATIS DID NOT INFORM US OF TRANSITION LEVEL. TRANSITION ALT IS 3000 FT. WE LEVELED OFF AT FL30 FOR 30 SECONDS. WE THEN NOTICED WE STILL HAD QNE (29.92) STILL SET. WE HAD LEVELED OFF LOW. WE THEN CLBED BACK TO 3000 FT ON PROPER QNH. THE DSCNT HAD BEEN RUSHED AS IT ALWAYS IS GOING INTO AMS. HAD A MEDICAL PROB AT SAME TIME THAT ADDED TO CONFUSION. NO COMMENT WAS MADE BY ATC OR US OVER RADIO OR OTHERWISE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 399828: RECOMMEND THAT TRANSITION LEVELS AND ALTS BE STANDARDIZED THE WORLD OVER OR, IF NOT FEASIBLE, BE AT ALTS ABOVE 10000 FT.
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.