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B737 captain experiences a jammed speed break lever during descent with the first officer in the lavatory. Once the first officer returns a great deal of force is used to return the lever to the stowed position. During this process descent below FL180 occurs and the altimeter is not reset resulting in an undershoot at the crossing restriction on the arrival.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 912894 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201010 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-400 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | STAR JAWBN |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Speedbrake/Spoiler |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
Just before descent the first officer left to use the restroom. We were descending on the arrival and needed to slow the aircraft in descent. Used the speed brakes and they jammed at about half way to the flight detent. I could not move the speed brake lever using normal force. The first officer [returned to] the flight deck about FL180 and we continued on the arrival as I used a great deal of force and could not move the jammed speed brake. I then just gave it a good ol' farm boy push and it stowed. We called dispatch asking for landing data without speed brakes/spoilers on landing; there is none! We leveled at 12;000 ft and just then we were switched to approach control. Approaching the fix (?) we were to be at 12;000 ft; by then we were given 10;000 ft by approach control. We ran the approach check as soon as the error was discovered. They said nothing probably because we were not at the fix at which we were to be at 12;000 by; but we caught the error and descended to 10;000 ft. We were at 29.92; correct altimeter setting was 30.44.tired; maintenance problem that for one pilot was somewhat distracting. This aircraft should be fixed; I found out this is a recurring event on this aircraft and it has not been fixed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737 Captain experiences a jammed speed break lever during descent with the First Officer in the lavatory. Once the First Officer returns a great deal of force is used to return the lever to the stowed position. During this process descent below FL180 occurs and the altimeter is not reset resulting in an undershoot at the crossing restriction on the arrival.
Narrative: Just before descent the First Officer left to use the restroom. We were descending on the arrival and needed to slow the aircraft in descent. Used the speed brakes and they jammed at about half way to the Flight detent. I could not move the speed brake lever using normal force. The First Officer [returned to] the Flight Deck about FL180 and we continued on the arrival as I used a great deal of force and could not move the jammed speed brake. I then just gave it a good ol' farm boy push and it stowed. We called Dispatch asking for landing data without speed brakes/spoilers on landing; there is NONE! We leveled at 12;000 ft and just then we were switched to Approach Control. Approaching the fix (?) we were to be at 12;000 ft; by then we were given 10;000 ft by Approach Control. We ran the Approach check as soon as the error was discovered. They said nothing probably because we were not at the fix at which we were to be at 12;000 by; but we caught the error and descended to 10;000 ft. We were at 29.92; correct altimeter setting was 30.44.Tired; maintenance problem that for one pilot was somewhat distracting. This aircraft should be fixed; I found out this is a recurring event on this aircraft and it has not been fixed.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.