<< >> NASA ASRS Report 574643, February 2003

While complying with controller's request for an expedited descent, a B737 crew becomes concerned when the controller issues an altitude alert, 'check your altitude.'

Attributes
ACN	574643
Time
Date	200302
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7300 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Windshear
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time type : 1577
ASRS Report	574643
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	574649
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : radio altimeter other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Airspace Structure

Narrative:

We were cleared a visual approach to runway 35R. Subsequently, we went around due to windshear on final. During subsequent approach, we understood ATC to clear us a visual approach to follow B767 to runway 35R. We accepted approach clearance and reset MCP to 7000 ft (FAF altitude). Passing 8500 ft, ATC asked us to expedite descent through 8000 ft, we complied. Passing 7300 ft, ATC said 'altitude alert, check altitude.' we advised ATC we were visual, following B767 with runway in sight. We were 6 mi southeast of FAF to runway 35R. ATC did not indicate any problems. We were at 1300 ft AGL. Was this a safe situation? Being cleared the visual, we reset the MCP to FAF altitude. We did not believe ATC made any mistakes, however, we were concerned that they called 'altitude alert, monitor your altitude.' we were VMC and as mentioned earlier, we had the B767 and airfield in sight. The expedite descent caused us to descend at a slightly faster rate. Should we have not reset MCP or maintained 9000 ft until we were closer to FAF?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE COMPLYING WITH CTLR'S REQUEST FOR AN EXPEDITED DSCNT, A B737 CREW BECOMES CONCERNED WHEN THE CTLR ISSUES AN ALT ALERT, 'CHK YOUR ALT.'

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 35R. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE WENT AROUND DUE TO WINDSHEAR ON FINAL. DURING SUBSEQUENT APCH, WE UNDERSTOOD ATC TO CLR US A VISUAL APCH TO FOLLOW B767 TO RWY 35R. WE ACCEPTED APCH CLRNC AND RESET MCP TO 7000 FT (FAF ALT). PASSING 8500 FT, ATC ASKED US TO EXPEDITE DSCNT THROUGH 8000 FT, WE COMPLIED. PASSING 7300 FT, ATC SAID 'ALT ALERT, CHK ALT.' WE ADVISED ATC WE WERE VISUAL, FOLLOWING B767 WITH RWY IN SIGHT. WE WERE 6 MI SE OF FAF TO RWY 35R. ATC DID NOT INDICATE ANY PROBS. WE WERE AT 1300 FT AGL. WAS THIS A SAFE SIT? BEING CLRED THE VISUAL, WE RESET THE MCP TO FAF ALT. WE DID NOT BELIEVE ATC MADE ANY MISTAKES, HOWEVER, WE WERE CONCERNED THAT THEY CALLED 'ALT ALERT, MONITOR YOUR ALT.' WE WERE VMC AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAD THE B767 AND AIRFIELD IN SIGHT. THE EXPEDITE DSCNT CAUSED US TO DSND AT A SLIGHTLY FASTER RATE. SHOULD WE HAVE NOT RESET MCP OR MAINTAINED 9000 FT UNTIL WE WERE CLOSER TO FAF?

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.