Narrative:

A very common scenario on the B757/767. While on a STAR arrival to ewr, we were issued a descent clearance from FL290 to FL280. I selected FL280 on the autoplt MCP. The captain selected VNAV. The problem was that on the B757/767 you must enter your cruise altitude both in the MCP window (autoplt) as well as the FMS. The aircraft will not change altitude unless the new altitude is entered both places. Several mins later, the center controller again issued the descent clearance, seeing that we had not descended. I saw that FL280 was in the MCP window, but failing to verify the altitude on the altimeter, I told the controller that we were at FL280. At that moment, we all 3 (captain, controller, and myself) realized that the altitude was not right. The captain and I realized what had happened. I then told the controller that we were descending to FL280, and we did.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 FAILS TO DSND IN ACCORD WITH CTR CLRNC WHEN THE CREW FAILS TO ENTER THE NEW ALT INTO THE FMS ON A STAR ARR INTO EWR.

Narrative: A VERY COMMON SCENARIO ON THE B757/767. WHILE ON A STAR ARR TO EWR, WE WERE ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC FROM FL290 TO FL280. I SELECTED FL280 ON THE AUTOPLT MCP. THE CAPT SELECTED VNAV. THE PROB WAS THAT ON THE B757/767 YOU MUST ENTER YOUR CRUISE ALT BOTH IN THE MCP WINDOW (AUTOPLT) AS WELL AS THE FMS. THE ACFT WILL NOT CHANGE ALT UNLESS THE NEW ALT IS ENTERED BOTH PLACES. SEVERAL MINS LATER, THE CTR CTLR AGAIN ISSUED THE DSCNT CLRNC, SEEING THAT WE HAD NOT DSNDED. I SAW THAT FL280 WAS IN THE MCP WINDOW, BUT FAILING TO VERIFY THE ALT ON THE ALTIMETER, I TOLD THE CTLR THAT WE WERE AT FL280. AT THAT MOMENT, WE ALL 3 (CAPT, CTLR, AND MYSELF) REALIZED THAT THE ALT WAS NOT RIGHT. THE CAPT AND I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I THEN TOLD THE CTLR THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO FL280, AND WE DID.

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.