MD11 flight crew uses an aggressive maneuver to level the aircraft causing cabin crew injuries.

Attributes
ACN	570765
Time
Date	200301
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 164 flight time total : 13179 flight time type : 2810
ASRS Report	570765
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	570634
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot cabin event other conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : overrode automation
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At FL255 on descent to FL250, TCASII TA occurred. First officer advised traffic 1500 ft below us. I responded that our level off altitude was FL250, so the traffic should not be a factor. At FL250, the aircraft did not appear to be leveling off. I advised first officer that the autoplt did not capture and then disconnected the autoplt and manually leveled the aircraft at FL250. We later learned that three flight attendants had been injured during the level off maneuver. Supplemental information from acn 570634: I looked at TCASII to find where to look for traffic. 1 mi below our level off altitude of FL250. I looked at the pfd and 'FL250 hold' was annunciated. I looked at altimeter and we were at FL250. He disconnected the autoplt and leveled off manually. We didn't think the level off was too excessive.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD11 FLT CREW USES AN AGGRESSIVE MANEUVER TO LEVEL THE ACFT CAUSING CABIN CREW INJURIES.

Narrative: AT FL255 ON DSCNT TO FL250, TCASII TA OCCURRED. FO ADVISED TFC 1500 FT BELOW US. I RESPONDED THAT OUR LEVEL OFF ALT WAS FL250, SO THE TFC SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR. AT FL250, THE ACFT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE LEVELING OFF. I ADVISED FO THAT THE AUTOPLT DID NOT CAPTURE AND THEN DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND MANUALLY LEVELED THE ACFT AT FL250. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THREE FLT ATTENDANTS HAD BEEN INJURED DURING THE LEVEL OFF MANEUVER. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 570634: I LOOKED AT TCASII TO FIND WHERE TO LOOK FOR TFC. 1 MI BELOW OUR LEVEL OFF ALT OF FL250. I LOOKED AT THE PFD AND 'FL250 HOLD' WAS ANNUNCIATED. I LOOKED AT ALTIMETER AND WE WERE AT FL250. HE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND LEVELED OFF MANUALLY. WE DIDN'T THINK THE LEVEL OFF WAS TOO EXCESSIVE.

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.