Narrative:

In cruise (FL390) approximately 80 NM northwest of autim intersection, center gave clearance to cross 35 NM northwest of autim intersection at FL270. I was the PF and entered FL270 into the cruise page of the CDU. About that time, another aircraft reported moderate turbulence in the descent, in the vicinity of autim intersection. I verified that we had started descending and then called the flight attendants to inform them to be seated. A discussion ensued about stowing galley equipment, etc. About the same time, myself, the first officer, and the center controller realized that the aircraft was behind on the profile and would not make the crossing altitude of FL270. I also noticed that the tailwind had increased to over 90 KTS. I asked the controller if a turn should be initiated. His response was 'I am looking at that.' we crossed 35 NM northwest of autim intersection at FL300. The only traffic I saw on TCASII was at FL350, 12 - 1 O'clock 15 NM. Upon landing in den, I called center to discuss this situation. Center stated that no traffic separation problem existed and no deviations report was going to be filed by ZDV. They did say, however, that they are becoming concerned that many aircraft are missing crossing altitudes and therefore asking for relief or when they do make the crossing restr it is tight. In regards to my specific situation, should I have used VNAV for the arrival descent? Flight level change would have been a better technique, since it would have provided an idle descent and would have helped negate the increased tailwind.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CREW FAILS TO MEET XING RESTR ON RAMMS 3 ARR TO DENVER, CO.

Narrative: IN CRUISE (FL390) APPROX 80 NM NW OF AUTIM INTXN, CTR GAVE CLRNC TO CROSS 35 NM NW OF AUTIM INTXN AT FL270. I WAS THE PF AND ENTERED FL270 INTO THE CRUISE PAGE OF THE CDU. ABOUT THAT TIME, ANOTHER ACFT RPTED MODERATE TURB IN THE DSCNT, IN THE VICINITY OF AUTIM INTXN. I VERIFIED THAT WE HAD STARTED DSNDING AND THEN CALLED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO INFORM THEM TO BE SEATED. A DISCUSSION ENSUED ABOUT STOWING GALLEY EQUIP, ETC. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, MYSELF, THE FO, AND THE CTR CTLR REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WAS BEHIND ON THE PROFILE AND WOULD NOT MAKE THE XING ALT OF FL270. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TAILWIND HAD INCREASED TO OVER 90 KTS. I ASKED THE CTLR IF A TURN SHOULD BE INITIATED. HIS RESPONSE WAS 'I AM LOOKING AT THAT.' WE CROSSED 35 NM NW OF AUTIM INTXN AT FL300. THE ONLY TFC I SAW ON TCASII WAS AT FL350, 12 - 1 O'CLOCK 15 NM. UPON LNDG IN DEN, I CALLED CTR TO DISCUSS THIS SIT. CTR STATED THAT NO TFC SEPARATION PROB EXISTED AND NO DEVS RPT WAS GOING TO BE FILED BY ZDV. THEY DID SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THEY ARE BECOMING CONCERNED THAT MANY ACFT ARE MISSING XING ALTS AND THEREFORE ASKING FOR RELIEF OR WHEN THEY DO MAKE THE XING RESTR IT IS TIGHT. IN REGARDS TO MY SPECIFIC SIT, SHOULD I HAVE USED VNAV FOR THE ARR DSCNT? FLT LEVEL CHANGE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER TECHNIQUE, SINCE IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED AN IDLE DSCNT AND WOULD HAVE HELPED NEGATE THE INCREASED TAILWIND.

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.