B727 crew had altitude overshoot in mem class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	476220
Time
Date	200006
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mem.vor
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	476220
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Distraction due to recurring flight director problems on first officer's instrument panel. Aircraft leveled at 6000 ft, started turn SID. First officer did not engage altitude hold and gradually lost altitude it turned to 355 degrees. Descended to 5600 ft. Distrs due to nonstandard autoplt, malfunction flight director and visual look in high density arrival corridor. ATC noted the altitude and cleared us to 5000 ft. No conflict occurred and approach control did not seem concerned. First officer had flown flawlessly for 2 legs. I watched him level at 6000 ft but did not notice if he engaged altitude hold. At leveloff, I went outside to watch for aircraft in the approach environment. Factors: 1) non standard autoplt, 2) nighttime fatigue, and 3)high density traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW HAD ALT OVERSHOOT IN MEM CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DISTR DUE TO RECURRING FLT DIRECTOR PROBS ON FO'S INST PANEL. ACFT LEVELED AT 6000 FT, STARTED TURN SID. FO DID NOT ENGAGE ALT HOLD AND GRADUALLY LOST ALT IT TURNED TO 355 DEGS. DSNDED TO 5600 FT. DISTRS DUE TO NONSTANDARD AUTOPLT, MALFUNCTION FLT DIRECTOR AND VISUAL LOOK IN HIGH DENSITY ARR CORRIDOR. ATC NOTED THE ALT AND CLRED US TO 5000 FT. NO CONFLICT OCCURRED AND APCH CTL DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED. FO HAD FLOWN FLAWLESSLY FOR 2 LEGS. I WATCHED HIM LEVEL AT 6000 FT BUT DID NOT NOTICE IF HE ENGAGED ALT HOLD. AT LEVELOFF, I WENT OUTSIDE TO WATCH FOR ACFT IN THE APCH ENVIRONMENT. FACTORS: 1) NON STANDARD AUTOPLT, 2) NIGHTTIME FATIGUE, AND 3)HIGH DENSITY TFC.

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.