A B727 flight crew experiences a runway trim while using the autoplt.

Attributes
ACN	602321
Time
Date	200312
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sby.vortac
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 30000 flight time type : 5700
ASRS Report	602321
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6900 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	602450
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Within seconds of leveloff, the aircraft autoplt ran forward trim in the dropped out of altitude hold. Aircraft pitch down and 800 ft was lost effecting recovery. First officer, flying the leg, rotated a smooth climb back to altitude. The center was informed (frequency 128.52). There seemed to be no problem with ATC. The aircraft has a long list of problems, including on the autoplt 'a' servo recent work compelled us to use it and do a CAT status check. Supplemental information from acn 602450: first officer saw it, disconnected autoplt. Aircraft autoplt was written up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 FLT CREW EXPERIENCES A RWY TRIM WHILE USING THE AUTOPLT.

Narrative: WITHIN SECONDS OF LEVELOFF, THE ACFT AUTOPLT RAN FORWARD TRIM IN THE DROPPED OUT OF ALT HOLD. ACFT PITCH DOWN AND 800 FT WAS LOST EFFECTING RECOVERY. FO, FLYING THE LEG, ROTATED A SMOOTH CLB BACK TO ALT. THE CTR WAS INFORMED (FREQ 128.52). THERE SEEMED TO BE NO PROB WITH ATC. THE ACFT HAS A LONG LIST OF PROBS, INCLUDING ON THE AUTOPLT 'A' SERVO RECENT WORK COMPELLED US TO USE IT AND DO A CAT STATUS CHK. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 602450: FO SAW IT, DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT. ACFT AUTOPLT WAS WRITTEN UP.

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.