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B737 captain forgets to engage autothrottles during approach; after runway change and visual distractions. Airspeed is allowed to decrease below min maneuvering before correcting.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 765164 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200711 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : zzz.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-800 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| 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 : 220 flight time type : 1800 |
| ASRS Report | 765164 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
Inbound; within about 4 mi of the VOR (IAF); during a VFR hand flown descent; while expecting the visual approach to runway X; we were given instructions to perform the VOR approach to runway Y. We were told to expect runway X. The WX report; and the appearance of the WX from altitude indicated a visual approach to runway X. However during the descent from the IAF; visibility deteriorated due to haze and the setting sun. Also; a cpr jet was visually seen but not reported by ATC; 1000 ft above us and only a few mi in front of us. To decrease my workload; I coupled the autoplt; but failed to couple the autothrottles. I did not discover my error till I had decelerated below my minimum maneuvering speed. I accelerated; coupled the autothrottles and completed the VOR runway Y approach with no further incidents. Don't let distrs keep me from the flying basics. More timely and accurate WX reports; reports of runway changes; and traffic reports.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737 CAPT FORGETS TO ENGAGE AUTOTHROTTLES DURING APPROACH; AFTER RWY CHANGE AND VISUAL DISTRACTIONS. AIRSPEED IS ALLOWED TO DECREASE BELOW MIN MANEUVERING BEFORE CORRECTING.
Narrative: INBOUND; WITHIN ABOUT 4 MI OF THE VOR (IAF); DURING A VFR HAND FLOWN DSCNT; WHILE EXPECTING THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY X; WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO PERFORM THE VOR APCH TO RWY Y. WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT RWY X. THE WX RPT; AND THE APPEARANCE OF THE WX FROM ALT INDICATED A VISUAL APCH TO RWY X. HOWEVER DURING THE DSCNT FROM THE IAF; VISIBILITY DETERIORATED DUE TO HAZE AND THE SETTING SUN. ALSO; A CPR JET WAS VISUALLY SEEN BUT NOT RPTED BY ATC; 1000 FT ABOVE US AND ONLY A FEW MI IN FRONT OF US. TO DECREASE MY WORKLOAD; I COUPLED THE AUTOPLT; BUT FAILED TO COUPLE THE AUTOTHROTTLES. I DID NOT DISCOVER MY ERROR TILL I HAD DECELERATED BELOW MY MINIMUM MANEUVERING SPD. I ACCELERATED; COUPLED THE AUTOTHROTTLES AND COMPLETED THE VOR RWY Y APCH WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. DON'T LET DISTRS KEEP ME FROM THE FLYING BASICS. MORE TIMELY AND ACCURATE WX RPTS; RPTS OF RWY CHANGES; AND TFC RPTS.
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.