An A319 missed the eldee three doccs intersection 15000 ft assigned crossing restriction because the...

Attributes
ACN	811637
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 16300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : eldee 3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	811637
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

As we were descending on the eldee arrival into dca; ATC gave us a crossing altitude of 15000 ft MSL over doccs (intersection). We put it in the FMS and verified it. As we started down we began doing checklists (descent; approach; etc). When we finished the checklists for some reason the altitude crossing dropped out of the FMS and we found ourselves at 16300 ft MSL over doccs (intersection). I talked to ATC to let them know. They confirmed it and said it was ok and gave us direct. Looking back I feel that although crews can be busy completing checklist and other tasks we should not assume that even though we set it up right and verify it was in there; we should also make sure; the FMS is doing what it is supposed to do. Looking at the situation when we loaded the approach into the FMS; it also knocked all crossing altitudes out of the FMS. As far as the arrival itself; there have been a few different discussions and NOTAMS on this. It is a little confusing because there are 3 different intxns that one should cross at 15000 ft MSL. It is up to ATC to tell us which one. Most other STAR's it tells us what to expect. This particular STAR is different from most. I do know quite a few pilots who have discussed just this situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 MISSED THE ELDEE THREE DOCCS INTERSECTION 15000 FT ASSIGNED CROSSING RESTRICTION BECAUSE THE RUNWAY APPROACH WAS ADDED TO THE FMS AFTER THE ARRIVAL RESTRICTION WAS ENTERED CAUSING IT TO DROP OUT.

Narrative: AS WE WERE DSNDING ON THE ELDEE ARR INTO DCA; ATC GAVE US A XING ALT OF 15000 FT MSL OVER DOCCS (INTXN). WE PUT IT IN THE FMS AND VERIFIED IT. AS WE STARTED DOWN WE BEGAN DOING CHKLISTS (DSCNT; APCH; ETC). WHEN WE FINISHED THE CHKLISTS FOR SOME REASON THE ALT XING DROPPED OUT OF THE FMS AND WE FOUND OURSELVES AT 16300 FT MSL OVER DOCCS (INTXN). I TALKED TO ATC TO LET THEM KNOW. THEY CONFIRMED IT AND SAID IT WAS OK AND GAVE US DIRECT. LOOKING BACK I FEEL THAT ALTHOUGH CREWS CAN BE BUSY COMPLETING CHKLIST AND OTHER TASKS WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT EVEN THOUGH WE SET IT UP RIGHT AND VERIFY IT WAS IN THERE; WE SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE; THE FMS IS DOING WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. LOOKING AT THE SITUATION WHEN WE LOADED THE APCH INTO THE FMS; IT ALSO KNOCKED ALL XING ALTS OUT OF THE FMS. AS FAR AS THE ARR ITSELF; THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS AND NOTAMS ON THIS. IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING BECAUSE THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT INTXNS THAT ONE SHOULD CROSS AT 15000 FT MSL. IT IS UP TO ATC TO TELL US WHICH ONE. MOST OTHER STAR'S IT TELLS US WHAT TO EXPECT. THIS PARTICULAR STAR IS DIFFERENT FROM MOST. I DO KNOW QUITE A FEW PLTS WHO HAVE DISCUSSED JUST THIS SIT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

An A319 missed the eldee three doccs intersection 15000 ft assigned crossing restriction because the runway approach was added to the FMS after the arrival restriction was entered causing it to drop out.