Narrative:

Told to cross 40 mi west of fim VOR at 15000 ft. Prior to that, we were given a vector, then told to descend to cross 70 DME fim VOR at FL230, 40 DME fim VOR, at 15000 ft, 10 DME fim VOR at 11000 ft. This came fast and had to be read back and confirmed twice. We descended to 15000 ft by 40 DME fim VOR, but failed to set the altimeters from 29.92 to 30.30 after passing through FL180 in the descent. ZLA asked our altitude. We said 15000 ft, as it read on altimeter. She said she showed 15300 ft. We saw the altimeter settings, reset them to 30.30 and descended toward our 11000 ft required at 10 DME fim VOR. The checklist for descent starts with circuit breakers check 'in,' pressurization --'set,' then at FL180, altimeters --'set.' we were at FL410, so from FL410 to FL180 at a 3000 ft or so descent rate, it would take 8 mins to descend. During that time, we received a number of changes to course and altitude. When we reached FL180, we were programming the VNAV for FMS for the crossing restrs. We needed to pay more attention to the checklist call at FL180 for altimeters to prevent this from occurring.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GIV FLC BECOME DISTR AND FAIL TO RESET ALTIMETERS PASSING FL180, UNDERSHOOTING ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: TOLD TO CROSS 40 MI W OF FIM VOR AT 15000 FT. PRIOR TO THAT, WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR, THEN TOLD TO DSND TO CROSS 70 DME FIM VOR AT FL230, 40 DME FIM VOR, AT 15000 FT, 10 DME FIM VOR AT 11000 FT. THIS CAME FAST AND HAD TO BE READ BACK AND CONFIRMED TWICE. WE DSNDED TO 15000 FT BY 40 DME FIM VOR, BUT FAILED TO SET THE ALTIMETERS FROM 29.92 TO 30.30 AFTER PASSING THROUGH FL180 IN THE DSCNT. ZLA ASKED OUR ALT. WE SAID 15000 FT, AS IT READ ON ALTIMETER. SHE SAID SHE SHOWED 15300 FT. WE SAW THE ALTIMETER SETTINGS, RESET THEM TO 30.30 AND DSNDED TOWARD OUR 11000 FT REQUIRED AT 10 DME FIM VOR. THE CHKLIST FOR DSCNT STARTS WITH CIRCUIT BREAKERS CHK 'IN,' PRESSURIZATION --'SET,' THEN AT FL180, ALTIMETERS --'SET.' WE WERE AT FL410, SO FROM FL410 TO FL180 AT A 3000 FT OR SO DSCNT RATE, IT WOULD TAKE 8 MINS TO DSND. DURING THAT TIME, WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO COURSE AND ALT. WHEN WE REACHED FL180, WE WERE PROGRAMMING THE VNAV FOR FMS FOR THE XING RESTRS. WE NEEDED TO PAY MORE ATTN TO THE CHKLIST CALL AT FL180 FOR ALTIMETERS TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING.

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.