B737-800 flight crew reported they failed to make a crossing restriction on the RNAV Y arrival to md...

Attributes
ACN	1292284
Time
Date	201509
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	MDW.Airport
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR ENDEE THREE
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Autopilot
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 208 Flight Crew Type 12000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 267 Flight Crew Type 880
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

Approaching kempz level at 5;000 feet on the endee 3 arrival; ATC said the RNAV Y 31C was available and asked us if we wanted it. We said yes and he cleared us for the approach and to cross kempz at 4;000 feet. I quickly rushed to change my approach page in my efb to the RNAV Y then went to program the FMC. I put kempz in the legs page under the active kempz; verified and executed; but got a discontinuity. I tried it again and it worked the second time. When I looked up from the FMC the aircraft was climbing; I have no idea why or what altitude it was climbing to. It got about 150 feet high. We corrected back to 5;000 feet but still had not put 4;000 feet in the box. We went over the routing; verifying FMC to efb; and the first officer stated we were supposed to be at kempz at 4;000 feet as we were quickly approaching kempz. I tried to altitude intv but the aircraft did not start down. I was about to go manual by the time I realized I had not set 4;000 feet. By this time we were inside of kempz. The first officer asked if he should say something to ATC but I told him the aircraft was starting down now and we should be able to get back to profile. We quickly did; about the time ATC said we should have crossed kempz at 4;000 for holding traffic. Flew uneventful final to landing. In our debrief after the flight we realized by accepting the RNAV we put ourselves in time critical situation. Calling up efb; FMC; the aircraft climbing and modifying IAF; we should have just stayed with vectors. Once we realized we were going to be high I should have encouraged the first officer to communicate quickly instead of just being satisfied with re-establishing profile.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 flight crew reported they failed to make a crossing restriction on the RNAV Y Arrival to MDW when they got distracted with late runway change programming.

Narrative: Approaching KEMPZ level at 5;000 feet on the ENDEE 3 Arrival; ATC said the RNAV Y 31C was available and asked us if we wanted it. We said yes and he cleared us for the approach and to cross KEMPZ at 4;000 feet. I quickly rushed to change my approach page in my EFB to the RNAV Y then went to program the FMC. I put KEMPZ in the LEGS page under the active KEMPZ; verified and executed; but got a discontinuity. I tried it again and it worked the second time. When I looked up from the FMC the aircraft was climbing; I have no idea why or what altitude it was climbing to. It got about 150 feet high. We corrected back to 5;000 feet but still had not put 4;000 feet in the box. We went over the routing; verifying FMC to EFB; and the FO stated we were supposed to be at KEMPZ at 4;000 feet as we were quickly approaching KEMPZ. I tried to ALT INTV but the aircraft did not start down. I was about to go manual by the time I realized I had not set 4;000 feet. By this time we were inside of KEMPZ. The FO asked if he should say something to ATC but I told him the aircraft was starting down now and we should be able to get back to profile. We quickly did; about the time ATC said we should have crossed KEMPZ at 4;000 for holding traffic. Flew uneventful final to landing. In our debrief after the flight we realized by accepting the RNAV we put ourselves in time critical situation. Calling up EFB; FMC; the aircraft climbing and modifying IAF; we should have just stayed with vectors. Once we realized we were going to be high I should have encouraged the FO to communicate quickly instead of just being satisfied with re-establishing profile.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

B737-800 flight crew reported they failed to make a crossing restriction on the RNAV Y arrival to mdw when they got distracted with late runway change programming.