Air carrier widebody transport altitude deviation overshot during descent.

Attributes
ACN	132083
Time
Date	198912
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7300 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	132083
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
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:

At cruise altitude captain went to restroom. Clearance was given to cross a fix at 19,000' and to change to another frequency. The frequency and 18,000 were read back. At this time the captain returned to the cockpit. The changeover frequency was dialed in but the new controller was not contacted. With the help of the captain the crossing restriction was loaded in the FMC and it was determined that speed brakes were needed to make the restriction. On level off at 18,000 we were told to return to 19,000 and contact the controller as originally instructed. We were in VFR conditions and was informed by the controller that no other aircraft were in the area at 18,000. The first officer just completed IOE on the widebody transport and was an engineer for 4 1/2 yrs prior to this. I feel that an instructional tape describing does and don't's of 2-MAN crew everyday operation might have some assistance for a crew member transition from a 3-MAN crew.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING DESCENT.

Narrative: AT CRUISE ALT CAPT WENT TO RESTROOM. CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO CROSS A FIX AT 19,000' AND TO CHANGE TO ANOTHER FREQ. THE FREQ AND 18,000 WERE READ BACK. AT THIS TIME THE CAPT RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT. THE CHANGEOVER FREQ WAS DIALED IN BUT THE NEW CTLR WAS NOT CONTACTED. WITH THE HELP OF THE CAPT THE XING RESTRICTION WAS LOADED IN THE FMC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SPEED BRAKES WERE NEEDED TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION. ON LEVEL OFF AT 18,000 WE WERE TOLD TO RETURN TO 19,000 AND CONTACT THE CTLR AS ORIGINALLY INSTRUCTED. WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS AND WAS INFORMED BY THE CTLR THAT NO OTHER ACFT WERE IN THE AREA AT 18,000. THE F/O JUST COMPLETED IOE ON THE WDB AND WAS AN ENGINEER FOR 4 1/2 YRS PRIOR TO THIS. I FEEL THAT AN INSTRUCTIONAL TAPE DESCRIBING DOES AND DON'T'S OF 2-MAN CREW EVERYDAY OPERATION MIGHT HAVE SOME ASSISTANCE FOR A CREW MEMBER TRANSITION FROM A 3-MAN CREW.

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.