MD80 crew had multiple instrument and system failure.

Attributes
ACN	474101
Time
Date	200005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : abq.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	474101
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Altitude deviation during system failure. During arrival into ewr at 6000 ft level flight, aircraft experienced major navigation failure with loss of FMS, autoplt, autothrottle, flight director and all aural warnings. While recovering the system, the aircraft descended to 5600 ft. As we returned to 6000 ft, approach control queried us on our altitude. After explaining our situation, approach commented that there was no problem. No apparent loss of separation occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD MULTIPLE INST AND SYS FAILURE.

Narrative: ALTDEV DURING SYS FAILURE. DURING ARR INTO EWR AT 6000 FT LEVEL FLT, ACFT EXPERIENCED MAJOR NAV FAILURE WITH LOSS OF FMS, AUTOPLT, AUTOTHROTTLE, FLT DIRECTOR AND ALL AURAL WARNINGS. WHILE RECOVERING THE SYS, THE ACFT DSNDED TO 5600 FT. AS WE RETURNED TO 6000 FT, APCH CTL QUERIED US ON OUR ALT. AFTER EXPLAINING OUR SIT, APCH COMMENTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROB. NO APPARENT LOSS OF SEPARATION OCCURRED.

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.