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Crew accepts stored FMS holding pattern which defaults for right turns, instead of properly selecting left turns. ARTCC questions but approves.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 447069 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199908 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : stl.airport |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | msl single value : 22000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-83 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : holding |
| Route In Use | arrival star : qball. four |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7400 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 447069 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 447210 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
We were on arrival. I (first officer) was the PF. We were flying an MD80 FMS/EFIS aircraft. We were given the clearance to 'hold as published, 15 NM legs.' I programmed the FMS to hold and it programmed a r-hand turn holding pattern. Hold is a l-hand turn or nonstandard. I thought the FMS knew the correct direction for holding patterns. This is incorrect with our program. It always does a standard holding pattern unless you tell it nonstandard. We had the STAR out and neither of us noticed the error. After finishing an outbound turn, center asked if we were making a l- or r-hand holding pattern. We said we accidentally did a right turn and asked if we should change our heading to get back on the correct side of the arrival. He said no, and that we were ok and he would call our turn inbound. I don't have a lot of time on an FMS airplane and don't remember ever being told the FMS doesn't know the correct direction for holding pattern turns. We were too dependent on technology and didn't check the STAR closely enough. If we didn't have the FMS, this wouldn't have happened.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CREW ACCEPTS STORED FMS HOLDING PATTERN WHICH DEFAULTS FOR R TURNS, INSTEAD OF PROPERLY SELECTING L TURNS. ARTCC QUESTIONS BUT APPROVES.
Narrative: WE WERE ON ARR. I (FO) WAS THE PF. WE WERE FLYING AN MD80 FMS/EFIS ACFT. WE WERE GIVEN THE CLRNC TO 'HOLD AS PUBLISHED, 15 NM LEGS.' I PROGRAMMED THE FMS TO HOLD AND IT PROGRAMMED A R-HAND TURN HOLDING PATTERN. HOLD IS A L-HAND TURN OR NONSTANDARD. I THOUGHT THE FMS KNEW THE CORRECT DIRECTION FOR HOLDING PATTERNS. THIS IS INCORRECT WITH OUR PROGRAM. IT ALWAYS DOES A STANDARD HOLDING PATTERN UNLESS YOU TELL IT NONSTANDARD. WE HAD THE STAR OUT AND NEITHER OF US NOTICED THE ERROR. AFTER FINISHING AN OUTBOUND TURN, CTR ASKED IF WE WERE MAKING A L- OR R-HAND HOLDING PATTERN. WE SAID WE ACCIDENTALLY DID A R TURN AND ASKED IF WE SHOULD CHANGE OUR HDG TO GET BACK ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE ARR. HE SAID NO, AND THAT WE WERE OK AND HE WOULD CALL OUR TURN INBOUND. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON AN FMS AIRPLANE AND DON'T REMEMBER EVER BEING TOLD THE FMS DOESN'T KNOW THE CORRECT DIRECTION FOR HOLDING PATTERN TURNS. WE WERE TOO DEPENDENT ON TECHNOLOGY AND DIDN'T CHK THE STAR CLOSELY ENOUGH. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FMS, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.
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.