B757 flight crew's incorrect equipment calibration causes STAR overshoot.

Attributes
ACN	535899
Time
Date	200201
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18700 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : korry.one
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	535899
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 770
ASRS Report	535889
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : overrode automation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On descent on the korry one arrival to lga, I missed the 'skipy' altitude of at/above FL190, descending and then having been cleared to descend 'via the korry 1.' a moment before, I set 10000 ft into the mode control panel to get the FMS to fly the arrival. Apparently, I set 30.39 inches into the altimeter at same time. The copilot asked why the autoplt wasn't leveling off at FL190. I realized the error and reset the altimeter to 29.92 inches, too late. Indicated altitude was 18700 ft. I disconnected the autoplt and reclbed. We dropped below 18700 ft a bit. This was about 1 or 2 mi prior to 'skipy.' ATC didn't mention the transgression, however, there was also no traffic on TCASII. Becoming wrapped up with some tight restrs later in the STAR (a note on the flight plan warned of some steep dscnts!), I put myself too far ahead. If I had waited to reset the altimeter during the descent check passing transition level, there wouldn't have been the error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLC'S INCORRECT EQUIP CALIBRATION CAUSES STAR OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: ON DSCNT ON THE KORRY ONE ARR TO LGA, I MISSED THE 'SKIPY' ALT OF AT/ABOVE FL190, DSNDING AND THEN HAVING BEEN CLRED TO DSND 'VIA THE KORRY 1.' A MOMENT BEFORE, I SET 10000 FT INTO THE MODE CTL PANEL TO GET THE FMS TO FLY THE ARR. APPARENTLY, I SET 30.39 INCHES INTO THE ALTIMETER AT SAME TIME. THE COPLT ASKED WHY THE AUTOPLT WASN'T LEVELING OFF AT FL190. I REALIZED THE ERROR AND RESET THE ALTIMETER TO 29.92 INCHES, TOO LATE. INDICATED ALT WAS 18700 FT. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND RECLBED. WE DROPPED BELOW 18700 FT A BIT. THIS WAS ABOUT 1 OR 2 MI PRIOR TO 'SKIPY.' ATC DIDN'T MENTION THE TRANSGRESSION, HOWEVER, THERE WAS ALSO NO TFC ON TCASII. BECOMING WRAPPED UP WITH SOME TIGHT RESTRS LATER IN THE STAR (A NOTE ON THE FLT PLAN WARNED OF SOME STEEP DSCNTS!), I PUT MYSELF TOO FAR AHEAD. IF I HAD WAITED TO RESET THE ALTIMETER DURING THE DSCNT CHK PASSING TRANSITION LEVEL, THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE ERROR.

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.