A300 first officer described a descent below assigned altitude and MVA during vectors for a visual a...

Narrative:

Arrival into ind was a downwind for 23L. Approach control ask us if we had the airport and the captain (pilot flying) stated we had the airport. Approach control cleared us down to 2;700 ft MSL and asked us if we could start our turn to base. The captain stared his turn towards the airport and continued his descent down to 2;700 ft MSL. Approach control told us not to overshoot final due 23R being used. The captain continued turning towards the airport while still outside of zerox. The minimum altitude for the ILS 23L at zerox is 2;700 MSL. I (pilot not flying) was looking outside the aircraft for the runway and other traffic. When I came back inside I noticed the captain was descending below 2;700 ft MSL. I thought he was going down to 1;500 ft AGL for a visual pattern altitude. Approaching 1;500 ft AGL (2;300 ft MSL) I stated we are approaching 1;500 above the ground. At this time the captain initiated a leveling off when approach control called and told us to check our altitude and stated minimum vectoring altitude was 2;700 ft MSL. We climbed back to 2;700 ft MSL. Approach then called and said we were back on the glide. No other events occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 First Officer described a descent below assigned altitude and MVA during vectors for a visual approach to Runway 23L at IND. The First Officer and ATC both announce the deviation and the Captain (pilot flying) returned to assigned altitude.

Narrative: Arrival into IND was a downwind for 23L. Approach Control ask us if we had the airport and the Captain (pilot flying) stated we had the airport. Approach Control cleared us down to 2;700 FT MSL and asked us if we could start our turn to base. The Captain stared his turn towards the airport and continued his descent down to 2;700 FT MSL. Approach Control told us not to overshoot final due 23R being used. The Captain continued turning towards the airport while still outside of ZEROX. The minimum altitude for the ILS 23L at ZEROX is 2;700 MSL. I (pilot not flying) was looking outside the aircraft for the runway and other traffic. When I came back inside I noticed the Captain was descending below 2;700 FT MSL. I thought he was going down to 1;500 FT AGL for a visual pattern altitude. Approaching 1;500 FT AGL (2;300 FT MSL) I stated we are approaching 1;500 above the ground. At this time the Captain initiated a leveling off when Approach Control called and told us to check our altitude and stated minimum vectoring altitude was 2;700 FT MSL. We climbed back to 2;700 FT MSL. Approach then called and said we were back on the glide. No other events occurred.

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	948156
Time
Date	201105
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	IND.Airport
State Reference	IN
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75 Flight Crew Total 17500 Flight Crew Type 1500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

A300 first officer described a descent below assigned altitude and MVA during vectors for a visual approach to runway 23L at ind. The first officer and ATC both announce the deviation and the captain (pilot flying) returned to assigned altitude.