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An MD80 in rvsm airspace experienced a heading and altitude excursion because of autoplt malfunction. TCAS RA alert during recovery.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 715971 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200611 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : mem.vortac |
| State Reference | TN |
| Altitude | msl single value : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 715971 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| ASRS Report | 715778 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne critical non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation maintenance problem : non compliance with mel |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Airspace Structure Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
We were passing overhead mem VORTAC at FL330. #1 autoplt engaged; in performance mode. Aircraft started a descending left turn with autoplt engaged until manually disconnected. We lost approximately 600 ft with a maximum bank angle of approximately 25 degrees. Established climbing right turn to FL330 and on course. Aircraft at FL320 and FL340. TCAS RA alerted during recovery. First officer informed ATC of altitude deviation and of our return to altitude assigned. Bearing in mind fuel situation and light turbulence conditions; we attempted re-engagement of autoplt. Performed normally for approximately 10 mins and then it disconnected with no change in attitude. Informed ATC that autoplt was non useable and that we were now non rvsm and requested descent accordingly. We descended to FL270 and hand flew aircraft to destination. Maintenance at dca performed autoplt system check and noted 5 faults in #1 autoplt in the pitch and roll mode.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 IN RVSM AIRSPACE EXPERIENCED A HDG AND ALT EXCURSION BECAUSE OF AUTOPLT MALFUNCTION. TCAS RA ALERT DURING RECOVERY.
Narrative: WE WERE PASSING OVERHEAD MEM VORTAC AT FL330. #1 AUTOPLT ENGAGED; IN PERFORMANCE MODE. ACFT STARTED A DSNDING L TURN WITH AUTOPLT ENGAGED UNTIL MANUALLY DISCONNECTED. WE LOST APPROX 600 FT WITH A MAX BANK ANGLE OF APPROX 25 DEGS. ESTABLISHED CLBING R TURN TO FL330 AND ON COURSE. ACFT AT FL320 AND FL340. TCAS RA ALERTED DURING RECOVERY. FO INFORMED ATC OF ALTDEV AND OF OUR RETURN TO ALT ASSIGNED. BEARING IN MIND FUEL SITUATION AND LIGHT TURB CONDITIONS; WE ATTEMPTED RE-ENGAGEMENT OF AUTOPLT. PERFORMED NORMALLY FOR APPROX 10 MINS AND THEN IT DISCONNECTED WITH NO CHANGE IN ATTITUDE. INFORMED ATC THAT AUTOPLT WAS NON USEABLE AND THAT WE WERE NOW NON RVSM AND REQUESTED DSCNT ACCORDINGLY. WE DSNDED TO FL270 AND HAND FLEW ACFT TO DEST. MAINT AT DCA PERFORMED AUTOPLT SYS CHK AND NOTED 5 FAULTS IN #1 AUTOPLT IN THE PITCH AND ROLL MODE.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.