An unidentified air carrier jet was unable to comply with a descent crossing restriction issued late...

Narrative:

ATC issued a descent and crossing restriction of 11;000 and 250 KTS at doccs with which we were unable to comply although we tried our best. The captain was pilot flying; and I was pilot not flying. I do not remember the required descent rate; but we initiated a 4;100 FPM descent at idle thrust; vmo and full spoilers as soon as the crossing restriction was issued. Almost immediately; I realized we would not make the crossing restriction because diving at vmo at idle and full spoilers placed the altitude range selector directly on the fix; with no room for deceleration (there was a 150+ knot tailwind; with a 620 knot groundspeed). I told ATC this a few seconds later and they requested 'altitude first; then speed.'shortly thereafter; the winds rising up over the ridges caused an increase of performance (no turbulence) that resulted in a momentary IAS of 340 KTS; 10 KTS above vmo along with associated overspeed warnings. Ultimately; we were unable to meet the altitude or speed requested by ATC. ATC was advised well in advance. We were doing our best to comply with an absolutely ludicrous crossing restriction. There was just no other way to slow the aircraft and we were already at idle thrust and full spoilers just to make the altitude restriction. I think disconnecting the autopilot to raise the nose would have been risking more than just having an overspeed condition in smooth air.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An unidentified air carrier jet was unable to comply with a descent crossing restriction issued late by ATC. While attempting to comply the flight crew exceeded Vmo for a brief period.

Narrative: ATC issued a descent and crossing restriction of 11;000 and 250 KTS at DOCCS with which we were unable to comply although we tried our best. The Captain was pilot flying; and I was pilot not flying. I do not remember the required descent rate; but we initiated a 4;100 FPM descent at idle thrust; Vmo and full spoilers as soon as the crossing restriction was issued. Almost immediately; I realized we would not make the crossing restriction because diving at Vmo at idle and full spoilers placed the altitude range selector directly on the fix; with no room for deceleration (there was a 150+ knot tailwind; with a 620 knot groundspeed). I told ATC this a few seconds later and they requested 'altitude first; then speed.'Shortly thereafter; the winds rising up over the ridges caused an increase of performance (no turbulence) that resulted in a momentary IAS of 340 KTS; 10 KTS above Vmo along with associated overspeed warnings. Ultimately; we were unable to meet the altitude or speed requested by ATC. ATC was advised well in advance. We were doing our best to comply with an absolutely ludicrous crossing restriction. There was just no other way to slow the aircraft and we were already at idle thrust and full spoilers just to make the altitude restriction. I think disconnecting the autopilot to raise the nose would have been risking more than just having an overspeed condition in smooth air.

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.

Attributes
ACN	931338
Time
Date	201102
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Speed All Types

An unidentified air carrier jet was unable to comply with a descent crossing restriction issued late by ATC. While attempting to comply the flight crew exceeded vmo for a brief period.