A320 crew did not comply with an altitude crossing restr in ZNY class a.

Attributes
ACN	487550
Time
Date	200009
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	487550
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to original clearance other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to cross hnk at FL280. Started managed descent to FL280 from FL350. Traffic passed under 27000 ft, as we were passing through 29000 ft. There was no traffic problem. SOP's were followed to set the new altitude by both captain and first officer. Mcdu (mode control display unit) was showing restr, hnk FL280. Out of FL330, captain noticed altitude restr had dropped from mcdu and we were not going to make our restr. ATC was advised out of FL290. ATC questioned our clearance altitude. We could not remember actual altitude but were told FL280 was the altitude cleared to. Complacency was at fault. Automation is great only when monitored.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW DID NOT COMPLY WITH AN ALT XING RESTR IN ZNY CLASS A.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS HNK AT FL280. STARTED MANAGED DSCNT TO FL280 FROM FL350. TFC PASSED UNDER 27000 FT, AS WE WERE PASSING THROUGH 29000 FT. THERE WAS NO TFC PROB. SOP'S WERE FOLLOWED TO SET THE NEW ALT BY BOTH CAPT AND FO. MCDU (MODE CTL DISPLAY UNIT) WAS SHOWING RESTR, HNK FL280. OUT OF FL330, CAPT NOTICED ALT RESTR HAD DROPPED FROM MCDU AND WE WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE OUR RESTR. ATC WAS ADVISED OUT OF FL290. ATC QUESTIONED OUR CLRNC ALT. WE COULD NOT REMEMBER ACTUAL ALT BUT WERE TOLD FL280 WAS THE ALT CLRED TO. COMPLACENCY WAS AT FAULT. AUTOMATION IS GREAT ONLY WHEN MONITORED.

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.