Crew set FMS incorrectly and failed to make crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	442136
Time
Date	199907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : har.vortac
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Challenger CL604
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : bunts one
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 1150
ASRS Report	442136
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was told to cross 45 NM west of har VOR on bunts 1 arrival to phl. I read back the clearance, however, the collins 4200 FMS won't accept that since there are intxns within this distance. Message given is 'distance too large,' so in my mental math I accidentally entered 6 NM west of lomon intersection. This is only 25 NM west of har. So we missed the restr this was my fault, however, if the controller understood FMS entries, a clearance of FL250 4 NM west of cofax intersection would have been simple to enter and no chance of misunderstanding. Our usual clearance is to cross cofax intersection at FL250.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CREW SET FMS INCORRECTLY AND FAILED TO MAKE XING RESTR.

Narrative: I WAS TOLD TO CROSS 45 NM W OF HAR VOR ON BUNTS 1 ARR TO PHL. I READ BACK THE CLRNC, HOWEVER, THE COLLINS 4200 FMS WON'T ACCEPT THAT SINCE THERE ARE INTXNS WITHIN THIS DISTANCE. MESSAGE GIVEN IS 'DISTANCE TOO LARGE,' SO IN MY MENTAL MATH I ACCIDENTALLY ENTERED 6 NM W OF LOMON INTXN. THIS IS ONLY 25 NM W OF HAR. SO WE MISSED THE RESTR THIS WAS MY FAULT, HOWEVER, IF THE CTLR UNDERSTOOD FMS ENTRIES, A CLRNC OF FL250 4 NM W OF COFAX INTXN WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLE TO ENTER AND NO CHANCE OF MISUNDERSTANDING. OUR USUAL CLRNC IS TO CROSS COFAX INTXN AT FL250.

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.