An MD80 was dispatched in non compliance with unauthorized bank angle limits programmed into the FMS...

Attributes
ACN	490083
Time
Date	200010
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pmd.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j6.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	490089
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	490083
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : vor deviation indicator other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While tracking J-6 towards palmdale on the 295 degree radial we were using the gfms in coupled mode. Approximately 11 mi prior to the pmd VOR we noticed aircraft enter a 5 degree slow bank to the left as the gfms showed station passage. However the VOR raw data still showed us 11 mi north. The aircraft continued the turn to intercept the outbound course of 067 degree which is a 45 degree course change and in so doing exited the lateral confines of the airway. We passed about 8 mi north of palmdale. This large course change on this airway is required to fly around restr airspace over edwards AFB. Upon inspection of the maintenance confign files we found someone had modified the bank limits to 10 degrees above FL250 and 20 degrees below FL250. Despite warnings in air carrier messages to stop doing this it is still occurring. Perhaps this incident would be helpful to reinforce why this is not only a violation of the type certificate, but also can lead to a possible safety hazard violation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH UNAUTH BANK ANGLE LIMITS PROGRAMMED INTO THE FMS.

Narrative: WHILE TRACKING J-6 TOWARDS PALMDALE ON THE 295 DEG RADIAL WE WERE USING THE GFMS IN COUPLED MODE. APPROX 11 MI PRIOR TO THE PMD VOR WE NOTICED ACFT ENTER A 5 DEG SLOW BANK TO THE L AS THE GFMS SHOWED STATION PASSAGE. HOWEVER THE VOR RAW DATA STILL SHOWED US 11 MI N. THE ACFT CONTINUED THE TURN TO INTERCEPT THE OUTBOUND COURSE OF 067 DEG WHICH IS A 45 DEG COURSE CHANGE AND IN SO DOING EXITED THE LATERAL CONFINES OF THE AIRWAY. WE PASSED ABOUT 8 MI N OF PALMDALE. THIS LARGE COURSE CHANGE ON THIS AIRWAY IS REQUIRED TO FLY AROUND RESTR AIRSPACE OVER EDWARDS AFB. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MAINT CONFIGN FILES WE FOUND SOMEONE HAD MODIFIED THE BANK LIMITS TO 10 DEGS ABOVE FL250 AND 20 DEGS BELOW FL250. DESPITE WARNINGS IN ACR MESSAGES TO STOP DOING THIS IT IS STILL OCCURRING. PERHAPS THIS INCIDENT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO REINFORCE WHY THIS IS NOT ONLY A VIOLATION OF THE TYPE CERTIFICATE, BUT ALSO CAN LEAD TO A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD VIOLATION.

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.