Air carrier loads FMS incorrectly and flies the error until noticed by ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	451040
Time
Date	199910
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : cedes
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : holding descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : mod. 2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9400 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	451040
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In sum: air carrier crew arrived in the approach area of a major airport with limited fuel to find arrs were being delayed due to WX. After being given an initial hold clearance and entering that hold, crew inquired as to expected further routing and delay. They were advised their routing would be as planned and they could expect holding at a down line fix with an expect further clearance time that was beyond their fuel reserve requirements. Conferring with their dispatcher, the diversion station was changed to allow for more reserves and holding was accepted at the down line fix. In the rush to program and FMS for the holding, the direction of the hold was entered incorrectly and holding was commenced on the wrong side until noticed by ARTCC. A new clearance was given and the correct pattern was flown. Shortly thereafter, with adequate fuel on board, clearance was received to destination for a successful arrival.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LOADS FMS INCORRECTLY AND FLIES THE ERROR UNTIL NOTICED BY ARTCC.

Narrative: IN SUM: ACR CREW ARRIVED IN THE APCH AREA OF A MAJOR ARPT WITH LIMITED FUEL TO FIND ARRS WERE BEING DELAYED DUE TO WX. AFTER BEING GIVEN AN INITIAL HOLD CLRNC AND ENTERING THAT HOLD, CREW INQUIRED AS TO EXPECTED FURTHER ROUTING AND DELAY. THEY WERE ADVISED THEIR ROUTING WOULD BE AS PLANNED AND THEY COULD EXPECT HOLDING AT A DOWN LINE FIX WITH AN EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC TIME THAT WAS BEYOND THEIR FUEL RESERVE REQUIREMENTS. CONFERRING WITH THEIR DISPATCHER, THE DIVERSION STATION WAS CHANGED TO ALLOW FOR MORE RESERVES AND HOLDING WAS ACCEPTED AT THE DOWN LINE FIX. IN THE RUSH TO PROGRAM AND FMS FOR THE HOLDING, THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLD WAS ENTERED INCORRECTLY AND HOLDING WAS COMMENCED ON THE WRONG SIDE UNTIL NOTICED BY ARTCC. A NEW CLRNC WAS GIVEN AND THE CORRECT PATTERN WAS FLOWN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITH ADEQUATE FUEL ON BOARD, CLRNC WAS RECEIVED TO DEST FOR A SUCCESSFUL ARR.

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.