Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	114835
Time
Date	198906
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lrp
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19500 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	114835
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	114597
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to FL200 (one of 5 descent altitudes given in the last 4 min). The captain was hand flying and deviating to avoid rain showers. We were both watching the radar and missed the altitude of FL200. The altitude alert sounded at 19,700 and the captain reversed the descent. We descended to about 19,500 then started up. As we were climbing the controller requested our altitude. We had been dispatched for 2 legs with EPR gauges inoperative so we could not use automatic throttles or VNAV. The WX deviations made autoplt use impractical. I am sure that if we had had the full use of all equipment that the aircraft was certified with for 2-MAN operation we would not have missed the altitude. I suggest that the FAA look closer at 2-MAN air carrier MEL list and make sure they have all autoflt equipment working for dispatch (at least into busy areas or any WX.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL200 (ONE OF 5 DSCNT ALTS GIVEN IN THE LAST 4 MIN). THE CAPT WAS HAND FLYING AND DEVIATING TO AVOID RAIN SHOWERS. WE WERE BOTH WATCHING THE RADAR AND MISSED THE ALT OF FL200. THE ALT ALERT SOUNDED AT 19,700 AND THE CAPT REVERSED THE DSCNT. WE DESCENDED TO ABOUT 19,500 THEN STARTED UP. AS WE WERE CLIMBING THE CTLR REQUESTED OUR ALT. WE HAD BEEN DISPATCHED FOR 2 LEGS WITH EPR GAUGES INOP SO WE COULD NOT USE AUTO THROTTLES OR VNAV. THE WX DEVIATIONS MADE AUTOPLT USE IMPRACTICAL. I AM SURE THAT IF WE HAD HAD THE FULL USE OF ALL EQUIPMENT THAT THE ACFT WAS CERTIFIED WITH FOR 2-MAN OPERATION WE WOULD NOT HAVE MISSED THE ALT. I SUGGEST THAT THE FAA LOOK CLOSER AT 2-MAN AIR CARRIER MEL LIST AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL AUTOFLT EQUIPMENT WORKING FOR DISPATCH (AT LEAST INTO BUSY AREAS OR ANY WX.)

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.