<< >> NASA ASRS Report 592588, September 2003

During approach to lhr, a descent is made to 7000 ft when FL70 was the intent. This is noted by the controller and corrective instructions given.

Attributes
ACN	592588
Time
Date	200309
Day	Tue
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : egtt.artcc
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6450 msl bound upper : 7000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : egtt.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777 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
ASRS Report	592588
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : relief pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	593050
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance 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:

While descending from FL110 to FL80 approach control gave instructions to fly a 075 degree heading after passing ock VOR. There was no holding at ock. During descent, I heard the controller say descend to altitude 7000 ft on altimeter of 1031 hpa. I continued descent to 7000 ft at which point approach controller said return to FL70. I reset the altimeter to 1013 hpa and returned to FL70. We were then cleared to 4000 ft on altimeter of 1031 hpa and the remainder of approach was normal. The transition altitude in lhr terminal is 6000 ft but I was convinced the controller said to descend to 7000 ft on 1031 hpa. I should have clarified the instructions before continuing the descent.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING APCH TO LHR, A DSCNT IS MADE TO 7000 FT WHEN FL70 WAS THE INTENT. THIS IS NOTED BY THE CTLR AND CORRECTIVE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING FROM FL110 TO FL80 APCH CTL GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO FLY A 075 DEG HDG AFTER PASSING OCK VOR. THERE WAS NO HOLDING AT OCK. DURING DSCNT, I HEARD THE CTLR SAY DSND TO ALT 7000 FT ON ALTIMETER OF 1031 HPA. I CONTINUED DSCNT TO 7000 FT AT WHICH POINT APCH CTLR SAID RETURN TO FL70. I RESET THE ALTIMETER TO 1013 HPA AND RETURNED TO FL70. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO 4000 FT ON ALTIMETER OF 1031 HPA AND THE REMAINDER OF APCH WAS NORMAL. THE TRANSITION ALT IN LHR TERMINAL IS 6000 FT BUT I WAS CONVINCED THE CTLR SAID TO DSND TO 7000 FT ON 1031 HPA. I SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE CONTINUING THE DSCNT.

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.