Medium large transport crew forgot to set qnh at the transition altitude.

Attributes
ACN	465860
Time
Date	200003
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11800 msl bound upper : 12000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude descent : holding
Route In Use	arrival : holding pattern
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	465860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending into boston we got a clearance to hold at pvd VOR as published. The barometric pressure was falling rapidly and we were cleared to descend southwest of pvd to cross at or below 16000 ft and maintain 14000 ft then change to 12000 ft. We also were trying to 'plug the holding pattern into the GPS, but couldn't get it in the box. Upon reaching 12000 ft we realized we hadn't reset the altimeter. (I believe it was approximately 29.64) we stopped the descent at 11800 ft (went 200 ft below 12000 ft and climbed back up to 12000 ft right away). Looking at our TCASII we found no conflict. I believe next time one will work radio and the GPS and the PF will only fly the airplane, ie, control autoplt and set altimeters.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CREW FORGOT TO SET QNH AT THE TRANSITION ALT.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO BOSTON WE GOT A CLRNC TO HOLD AT PVD VOR AS PUBLISHED. THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WAS FALLING RAPIDLY AND WE WERE CLRED TO DSND SW OF PVD TO CROSS AT OR BELOW 16000 FT AND MAINTAIN 14000 FT THEN CHANGE TO 12000 FT. WE ALSO WERE TRYING TO 'PLUG THE HOLDING PATTERN INTO THE GPS, BUT COULDN'T GET IT IN THE BOX. UPON REACHING 12000 FT WE REALIZED WE HADN'T RESET THE ALTIMETER. (I BELIEVE IT WAS APPROX 29.64) WE STOPPED THE DSCNT AT 11800 FT (WENT 200 FT BELOW 12000 FT AND CLBED BACK UP TO 12000 FT RIGHT AWAY). LOOKING AT OUR TCASII WE FOUND NO CONFLICT. I BELIEVE NEXT TIME ONE WILL WORK RADIO AND THE GPS AND THE PF WILL ONLY FLY THE AIRPLANE, IE, CTL AUTOPLT AND SET ALTIMETERS.

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.