A B757 PIC report on the cockpit workload induced by the failure of his FMC system after departure f...

Attributes
ACN	599362
Time
Date	200311
Day	Sat
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 34850 msl bound upper : 35000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.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	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	599362
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fmc other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Aircraft Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On IFR climb out from phl, FMC route #1 and route #2 both dumped. Initially, only FMC pages that worked were the fix pages. Copilot is relatively new on aircraft (75 hours), with little pegasus experience. I was flying raw data from fix-to-fix as he attempted to troubleshoot. Shortly thereafter, autoplt and autothrottles disconnected. I re-engaged in basic modes. As we were attempting to fix problem, navigation, and communication, we missed the FL180 checklist calls from ATC and we eased up to FL350. I have 10 yrs on the aircraft and in retrospect, should have let him fly and did the troubleshooting myself. Additional items contributing to this error: 1) first officer had very limited knowledge of pegasus and believe this is a flight academy/IOE oversight. 2) I believe I have above average skills on pegasus, but still continue to have incidents that are not covered in the 'book' or that anyone has technical expertise on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 PIC RPT ON THE COCKPIT WORKLOAD INDUCED BY THE FAILURE OF HIS FMC SYS AFTER DEP FROM PHL, PA.

Narrative: ON IFR CLBOUT FROM PHL, FMC RTE #1 AND RTE #2 BOTH DUMPED. INITIALLY, ONLY FMC PAGES THAT WORKED WERE THE FIX PAGES. COPLT IS RELATIVELY NEW ON ACFT (75 HRS), WITH LITTLE PEGASUS EXPERIENCE. I WAS FLYING RAW DATA FROM FIX-TO-FIX AS HE ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AUTOPLT AND AUTOTHROTTLES DISCONNECTED. I RE-ENGAGED IN BASIC MODES. AS WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO FIX PROB, NAV, AND COM, WE MISSED THE FL180 CHKLIST CALLS FROM ATC AND WE EASED UP TO FL350. I HAVE 10 YRS ON THE ACFT AND IN RETROSPECT, SHOULD HAVE LET HIM FLY AND DID THE TROUBLESHOOTING MYSELF. ADDITIONAL ITEMS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ERROR: 1) FO HAD VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF PEGASUS AND BELIEVE THIS IS A FLT ACADEMY/IOE OVERSIGHT. 2) I BELIEVE I HAVE ABOVE AVERAGE SKILLS ON PEGASUS, BUT STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE INCIDENTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED IN THE 'BOOK' OR THAT ANYONE HAS TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ON.

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.

A B757 PIC report on the cockpit workload induced by the failure of his FMC system after departure from phl, PA.