Flight crew of B757 fail to meet crossing restr at swatt intersection on localizer runway 27 approac...

Attributes
ACN	622241
Time
Date	200304
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : san.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2800
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon tower : dca.tower
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	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 158 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	622241
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 178 flight time total : 15300 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	622240
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : exit altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : overrode automation
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The following approach was to be conducted using the FMS database, and coupled with the autoplt with VNAV -- speed intervention. The approach was to san, localizer runway 27. We were cleared direct to the swatt intersection and told to maintain 3800 ft MSL. Approach control followed with approach clearance for the localizer runway 27 approach. The first officer tried unsuccessfully to execute a direct intercept into swatt (272 degree magnetic), and after several attempts decided to turn his attention outside the cockpit to look for the airport and configure the airplane for landing. I subsequently went inside to complete his request for the direct intercept. The autoplt captured the MCP altitude of 3800 ft, and captured the localizer for runway 27. We dialed in the MCP altitude window 660 ft minimums for the approach, opened the VNAV speed intervention window and slowed the airplane to 180 KTS. What I failed to notice is the 'hard' altitude of 3600 ft at swatt went to a 'soft' 2867 ft. We passed swatt at 2800 ft, 200 ft below the class B airspace and 800 ft below the segment altitude of 3600 ft. Supplemental information from acn 622240: I crossed reebo at 2000 ft and disconnected the autoplt and flew the aircraft using PAPI and the pdi for visual GS reference. After parking on the gate we reviewed the errors made by the altitude crossing error and the class B airspace violation. We reviewed the afm to discover the error was made by prematurely selected airspeed intervention.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF B757 FAIL TO MEET XING RESTR AT SWATT INTXN ON LOC RWY 27 APCH TO SAN. ERROR DUE TO IMPROPERLY OPERATED AUTOFLT SYS.

Narrative: THE FOLLOWING APCH WAS TO BE CONDUCTED USING THE FMS DATABASE, AND COUPLED WITH THE AUTOPLT WITH VNAV -- SPD INTERVENTION. THE APCH WAS TO SAN, LOC RWY 27. WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO THE SWATT INTXN AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN 3800 FT MSL. APCH CTL FOLLOWED WITH APCH CLRNC FOR THE LOC RWY 27 APCH. THE FO TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO EXECUTE A DIRECT INTERCEPT INTO SWATT (272 DEG MAGNETIC), AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS DECIDED TO TURN HIS ATTN OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT TO LOOK FOR THE ARPT AND CONFIGURE THE AIRPLANE FOR LNDG. I SUBSEQUENTLY WENT INSIDE TO COMPLETE HIS REQUEST FOR THE DIRECT INTERCEPT. THE AUTOPLT CAPTURED THE MCP ALT OF 3800 FT, AND CAPTURED THE LOC FOR RWY 27. WE DIALED IN THE MCP ALT WINDOW 660 FT MINIMUMS FOR THE APCH, OPENED THE VNAV SPD INTERVENTION WINDOW AND SLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO 180 KTS. WHAT I FAILED TO NOTICE IS THE 'HARD' ALT OF 3600 FT AT SWATT WENT TO A 'SOFT' 2867 FT. WE PASSED SWATT AT 2800 FT, 200 FT BELOW THE CLASS B AIRSPACE AND 800 FT BELOW THE SEGMENT ALT OF 3600 FT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 622240: I CROSSED REEBO AT 2000 FT AND DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND FLEW THE ACFT USING PAPI AND THE PDI FOR VISUAL GS REF. AFTER PARKING ON THE GATE WE REVIEWED THE ERRORS MADE BY THE ALT XING ERROR AND THE CLASS B AIRSPACE VIOLATION. WE REVIEWED THE AFM TO DISCOVER THE ERROR WAS MADE BY PREMATURELY SELECTED AIRSPD INTERVENTION.

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.

Flight crew of B757 fail to meet crossing restr at swatt intersection on localizer runway 27 approach to san. Error due to improperly operated autoflt system.