<< >> NASA ASRS Report 1010742, May 2012

B737-700 first officer reports descending below MVA during a night visual approach to runway 11L at tus after a last minute runway change from runway 29R. The reporter was attempting to descend to the FAF altitude prior to reaching calls. The crew; ATC; and the egpws all became concerned at the same time and corrective action was taken.

Attributes
ACN	1010742
Time
Date	201205
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	U90
State Reference	AZ
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 318
Events
Anomaly	Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

We were cleared off the STAR to calls and cleared the visual approach; following a runway change from 29R to 11L. Initially high on the path; we were correcting in VNAV; and rolled the FAF altitude into the MCP when cleared the visual approach. Descent rate was high and correcting; and as we approached 5;000 ft; it was evident terrain would be a factor; and the captain directed me to climb; as we got the terrain caution and visual symbol on the map display. Approach also alerted us we were below MVA for the area as we were climbing. Once clear of the terrain; we descended to 5;000 ft MSL and completed the visual approach without incident. When faced with a time-sensitive change to the briefed approach; ensure fully re-briefing the new game plan; not just loading the correct data into the FMC. Most importantly here is verbalize the terrain issue and step-down altitudes because they were not in the legs page due to being cleared direct the FAF; preventing a safe VNAV descent path.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 First Officer reports descending below MVA during a night visual approach to Runway 11L at TUS after a last minute runway change from Runway 29R. The reporter was attempting to descend to the FAF altitude prior to reaching CALLS. The crew; ATC; and the EGPWS all became concerned at the same time and corrective action was taken.

Narrative: We were cleared off the STAR to CALLS and cleared the visual approach; following a runway change from 29R to 11L. Initially high on the path; we were correcting in VNAV; and rolled the FAF altitude into the MCP when cleared the visual approach. Descent rate was high and correcting; and as we approached 5;000 FT; it was evident terrain would be a factor; and the Captain directed me to climb; as we got the Terrain Caution and visual symbol on the Map display. Approach also alerted us we were below MVA for the area as we were climbing. Once clear of the terrain; we descended to 5;000 FT MSL and completed the visual approach without incident. When faced with a time-sensitive change to the briefed approach; ensure fully re-briefing the new game plan; not just loading the correct data into the FMC. Most importantly here is verbalize the terrain issue and step-down altitudes because they were not in the LEGS page due to being cleared direct the FAF; preventing a safe VNAV descent path.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.