<< >> NASA ASRS Report 472646, May 2000

Holding at high altitude, an air carrier crew finds themselves too slow. They use emergency authority/authorized to descend while increasing speed.

Attributes
ACN	472646
Time
Date	200005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32800 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-82
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	472646
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert aircraft equipment : tcas aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : stall warning other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Departed myr headed for lga. We were given holding instructions prior to fak and began to slow the aircraft. We checked holding speeds for our indicated weight in the book and also with the in-flight computer. Set holding speed (plus a little). As we turned into the hold, the power was slowly bleeding off , so power was added, and bank angle decreased from 15-10 degrees. Aircraft was still slowing with an additional application of power. All other parameters being normal. We felt a slight burble and immediately nosed down slightly to increase speed, descended (FL330 to FL328). We were trying to get lower from ATC which was unavailable. The aircraft was still on the edge of a stall and we insisted lower. The controller asked if we were exercising 'emergency authority/authorized.' our response was 'yes.' we received FL310 and a turn to 180 degrees. Aircraft flight characteristics returned to normal. We figure that our actual baggage (golf clubs from MTR) and passenger weights were given to us and calculated in error, causing our aircraft to be heavier than indicated.

Related reports:

• An air carrier B757 flight crew found themselves short of fu...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOLDING AT HIGH ALT, AN ACR CREW FINDS THEMSELVES TOO SLOW. THEY USE EMER AUTH TO DSND WHILE INCREASING SPD.

Narrative: DEPARTED MYR HEADED FOR LGA. WE WERE GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO FAK AND BEGAN TO SLOW THE ACFT. WE CHKED HOLDING SPDS FOR OUR INDICATED WT IN THE BOOK AND ALSO WITH THE INFLT COMPUTER. SET HOLDING SPD (PLUS A LITTLE). AS WE TURNED INTO THE HOLD, THE PWR WAS SLOWLY BLEEDING OFF , SO PWR WAS ADDED, AND BANK ANGLE DECREASED FROM 15-10 DEGS. ACFT WAS STILL SLOWING WITH AN ADDITIONAL APPLICATION OF PWR. ALL OTHER PARAMETERS BEING NORMAL. WE FELT A SLIGHT BURBLE AND IMMEDIATELY NOSED DOWN SLIGHTLY TO INCREASE SPD, DSNDED (FL330 TO FL328). WE WERE TRYING TO GET LOWER FROM ATC WHICH WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE ACFT WAS STILL ON THE EDGE OF A STALL AND WE INSISTED LOWER. THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE EXERCISING 'EMER AUTH.' OUR RESPONSE WAS 'YES.' WE RECEIVED FL310 AND A TURN TO 180 DEGS. ACFT FLT CHARACTERISTICS RETURNED TO NORMAL. WE FIGURE THAT OUR ACTUAL BAGGAGE (GOLF CLUBS FROM MTR) AND PAX WTS WERE GIVEN TO US AND CALCULATED IN ERROR, CAUSING OUR ACFT TO BE HEAVIER THAN INDICATED.

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.