A320 crew was rushed in making an ATC assigned crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	437509
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fwa.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	437509
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Our flight was cleared by ZID to cross 10 mi south of fwa at FL240. This altitude constraint was entered into, and activated, by the crew. After we started our descent, the constraint altitude dropped out,' resulting in a higher descent path (based on the next constraint on the arrival). This necessitated a descent utilizing idle/speed brakes/maximum airspeed. We wound up barely making our altitude. Human factors: pilots were distracted by ATC radio calls and flight attendant requests. This delayed recognizing the 'dropping out' of the altitude constraint. I will be more alert to the possibility of the constraints 'disappearing' during future. Will make sure constraint push button is selected during descent. This will display the constraints on the EFIS/navigation display. Will xchk these constraints periodically during descent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW WAS RUSHED IN MAKING AN ATC ASSIGNED XING RESTR.

Narrative: OUR FLT WAS CLRED BY ZID TO CROSS 10 MI S OF FWA AT FL240. THIS ALT CONSTRAINT WAS ENTERED INTO, AND ACTIVATED, BY THE CREW. AFTER WE STARTED OUR DSCNT, THE CONSTRAINT ALT DROPPED OUT,' RESULTING IN A HIGHER DSCNT PATH (BASED ON THE NEXT CONSTRAINT ON THE ARR). THIS NECESSITATED A DSCNT UTILIZING IDLE/SPD BRAKES/MAX AIRSPD. WE WOUND UP BARELY MAKING OUR ALT. HUMAN FACTORS: PLTS WERE DISTRACTED BY ATC RADIO CALLS AND FLT ATTENDANT REQUESTS. THIS DELAYED RECOGNIZING THE 'DROPPING OUT' OF THE ALT CONSTRAINT. I WILL BE MORE ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CONSTRAINTS 'DISAPPEARING' DURING FUTURE. WILL MAKE SURE CONSTRAINT PUSH BUTTON IS SELECTED DURING DSCNT. THIS WILL DISPLAY THE CONSTRAINTS ON THE EFIS/NAV DISPLAY. WILL XCHK THESE CONSTRAINTS PERIODICALLY DURING DSCNT.

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.