Narrative:

Cleared to cross 80 mi south of ric VOR at FL270. We were leveled at FL330. The aircraft has been adapted with a new FMC. This particular restriction was difficult to get accepted into the FMC. It continuously showed down in the scratch pad (invalid entry). Nevertheless, the procedure for the entry was correct. ATC called and queried us about it and we initiated the descent with idle power and full speed brakes and 330 KTS. ATC asked if we were going to make it. We (I) acknowledged with an 'affirmative' and continued with the steep descent. As I was doing so, the winds were showing higher than usual on the FMC progress page. Upon realizing that the restriction was not going to be met, just when we were going to advise ATC and request vectors so as to meet the crossing restriction, dca ATC informed us not to make a steep descent because there was no conflicting traffic involved. I understood what he meant by that statement that everything was ok and we did not request vectors, but continued the descent, crossing 80 DME about 1000' high. I have been informed that this FMC has a flaw and will not give you crossing restrictions or accept them unless you are within the arrival area and X mi from destination. A proper bulletin with any corrective actions is underway, I have been informed. I feel that with so many changes and upgrades in technology, the fact that we get involved in the new procedures and ensuring them to work we slack off sometimes in the old seat-of-the-pant basic flying.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION BY FLT CREW OF MLG.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS 80 MI S OF RIC VOR AT FL270. WE WERE LEVELED AT FL330. THE ACFT HAS BEEN ADAPTED WITH A NEW FMC. THIS PARTICULAR RESTRICTION WAS DIFFICULT TO GET ACCEPTED INTO THE FMC. IT CONTINUOUSLY SHOWED DOWN IN THE SCRATCH PAD (INVALID ENTRY). NEVERTHELESS, THE PROC FOR THE ENTRY WAS CORRECT. ATC CALLED AND QUERIED US ABOUT IT AND WE INITIATED THE DSCNT WITH IDLE PWR AND FULL SPD BRAKES AND 330 KTS. ATC ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT. WE (I) ACKNOWLEDGED WITH AN 'AFFIRMATIVE' AND CONTINUED WITH THE STEEP DSCNT. AS I WAS DOING SO, THE WINDS WERE SHOWING HIGHER THAN USUAL ON THE FMC PROGRESS PAGE. UPON REALIZING THAT THE RESTRICTION WAS NOT GOING TO BE MET, JUST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO ADVISE ATC AND REQUEST VECTORS SO AS TO MEET THE XING RESTRICTION, DCA ATC INFORMED US NOT TO MAKE A STEEP DSCNT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CONFLICTING TFC INVOLVED. I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT STATEMENT THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK AND WE DID NOT REQUEST VECTORS, BUT CONTINUED THE DSCNT, XING 80 DME ABOUT 1000' HIGH. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS FMC HAS A FLAW AND WILL NOT GIVE YOU XING RESTRICTIONS OR ACCEPT THEM UNLESS YOU ARE WITHIN THE ARR AREA AND X MI FROM DEST. A PROPER BULLETIN WITH ANY CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IS UNDERWAY, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED. I FEEL THAT WITH SO MANY CHANGES AND UPGRADES IN TECHNOLOGY, THE FACT THAT WE GET INVOLVED IN THE NEW PROCS AND ENSURING THEM TO WORK WE SLACK OFF SOMETIMES IN THE OLD SEAT-OF-THE-PANT BASIC FLYING.

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.