While making a visual approach into hnl, a B717 crew descended below class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	524730
Time
Date	200109
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hnl.airport
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl single value : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	524730
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : exit non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After we were cleared for a visual approach to runway 8L I realized that the aircraft altitude was too high to fly beneath a cumulus build-up that was situated on the final approach course approximately 10 mi from the approach end of the runway. Because the cabin attendants were still walking about the cabin, I directed the first officer to fly around the south side of the build-up to avoid turbulence. As we continued our descent to maintain our approach profile we descended below the 2200 ft MSL floor of the class B airspace. Approach control then directed us to maintain 2500 ft MSL until 5 DME (from the hnl VOR). We climbed up to 2500 ft until 5 DME and resumed the approach. While being concerned with the safety of the flight attendants and also attempting to keep the aircraft in VMC, I did not remember that the floor of the class B airspace was higher than usual at our position in the terminal area. In hindsight, it would have been more practical not to have requested a visual approach and to have had the flight attendants be seated for turbulence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE MAKING A VISUAL APCH INTO HNL, A B717 CREW DSNDED BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: AFTER WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 8L I REALIZED THAT THE ACFT ALT WAS TOO HIGH TO FLY BENEATH A CUMULUS BUILD-UP THAT WAS SITUATED ON THE FINAL APCH COURSE APPROX 10 MI FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY. BECAUSE THE CABIN ATTENDANTS WERE STILL WALKING ABOUT THE CABIN, I DIRECTED THE FO TO FLY AROUND THE S SIDE OF THE BUILD-UP TO AVOID TURB. AS WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT TO MAINTAIN OUR APCH PROFILE WE DSNDED BELOW THE 2200 FT MSL FLOOR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. APCH CTL THEN DIRECTED US TO MAINTAIN 2500 FT MSL UNTIL 5 DME (FROM THE HNL VOR). WE CLBED UP TO 2500 FT UNTIL 5 DME AND RESUMED THE APCH. WHILE BEING CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS AND ALSO ATTEMPTING TO KEEP THE ACFT IN VMC, I DID NOT REMEMBER THAT THE FLOOR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL AT OUR POS IN THE TERMINAL AREA. IN HINDSIGHT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRACTICAL NOT TO HAVE REQUESTED A VISUAL APCH AND TO HAVE HAD THE FLT ATTENDANTS BE SEATED FOR TURB.

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.