An international wide body arrival to sfo was cleared for the approach immediately upon contacting norcal rather than close to the intercept. The crew failed to arm the approach mode and had an airspeed deviation as a result.

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Attributes
ACN	811669
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : pacific1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	811669
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 221 flight time total : 14700 flight time type : 6091
ASRS Report	811668
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Flew pacific one TA. Cleared approach as soon as on norcal. Upon starting approach; forgot to arm approach mode. I am used to hearing the clearance for approach just before intercepting approach. Since not in approach the airplane didn't capture and we started going high on GS. I tried to get the airplane started down and in doing so restricted throttles from going all the way up and airspeed decreased momentarily to 10-15 KTS below reference. Copilot called airspeed and I disconnected the autoplt and called for approach mode at about 2000 ft. I was able to get back on airspeed and GS well before the required 1000 ft for a stabilized approach. This was the first time I flew the pacific one and was very focused on figuring out when to configure and watching to make sure we made the restrs. Supplemental information from acn 811668: the approach mode is normally selected when cleared for the approach. Flying the TA puts the pilot out of the normal habit pattern since approach clearance is issued long before the approach phase is reached.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INTERNATIONAL WIDE BODY ARRIVAL TO SFO WAS CLEARED FOR THE APPROACH IMMEDIATELY UPON CONTACTING NORCAL RATHER THAN CLOSE TO THE INTERCEPT. THE CREW FAILED TO ARM THE APPROACH MODE AND HAD AN AIRSPEED DEVIATION AS A RESULT.

Narrative: FLEW PACIFIC ONE TA. CLRED APCH AS SOON AS ON NORCAL. UPON STARTING APCH; FORGOT TO ARM APCH MODE. I AM USED TO HEARING THE CLRNC FOR APCH JUST BEFORE INTERCEPTING APCH. SINCE NOT IN APCH THE AIRPLANE DIDN'T CAPTURE AND WE STARTED GOING HIGH ON GS. I TRIED TO GET THE AIRPLANE STARTED DOWN AND IN DOING SO RESTRICTED THROTTLES FROM GOING ALL THE WAY UP AND AIRSPD DECREASED MOMENTARILY TO 10-15 KTS BELOW REF. COPLT CALLED AIRSPD AND I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND CALLED FOR APCH MODE AT ABOUT 2000 FT. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON AIRSPD AND GS WELL BEFORE THE REQUIRED 1000 FT FOR A STABILIZED APCH. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I FLEW THE PACIFIC ONE AND WAS VERY FOCUSED ON FIGURING OUT WHEN TO CONFIGURE AND WATCHING TO MAKE SURE WE MADE THE RESTRS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 811668: THE APCH MODE IS NORMALLY SELECTED WHEN CLRED FOR THE APCH. FLYING THE TA PUTS THE PLT OUT OF THE NORMAL HABIT PATTERN SINCE APCH CLRNC IS ISSUED LONG BEFORE THE APCH PHASE IS REACHED.

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.