Corporate captain reported a delay in starting the descent on the keffr 3 arrival to sna which led t...

Attributes
ACN	1346834
Time
Date	201604
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZLA.ARTCC
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR KEFFR THREE
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 95 Flight Crew Total 5200 Flight Crew Type 1200
Person 2
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 24
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

The keffr three arrival was programmed into the FMS and crossing restrictions were confirmed present and correct. Autopilot and autothrottles were armed and the aircraft was traveling at approximately 300 KTS. After crossing edane at FL240 we were instructed to descend via the keffr three arrival. We set 8000 ft (altitude at keffr) and armed VNAV. Shortly after we noticed that the aircraft was not descending; that the VNAV path vector was displaying erroneous information and that the left and right VNAV indicator on the pfds did not match. We armed vertical speed and set a rate of 3000 ft/minute. Shortly after the controller asked if we were descending on the arrival and we confirmed that we were. The controller then instructed us to increase our descent rate because he didn't think we would be able to meet the restriction at caarr (13000 ft/280 KTS). We set our descent rate to 5000 ft/min. Shortly after he instructed us to level off at FL180. We entered FL180 into the altitude selector. The auto pilot was unable to level off at FL180; possibly due to the time permitted; aircraft speed and descent angle. We disarmed the autopilot and stopped the descent so that we could climb back to FL180. Before we could climb back to FL180 the controller instructed us to descend via the keffr three arrival once again. We were instructed to contact the control center via phone for a possible pilot deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Corporate Captain reported a delay in starting the descent on the KEFFR 3 Arrival to SNA which led to an overshoot at an intermediate level off. ZLA Controller reported a loss of separation with an aircraft descending to PSP.

Narrative: The KEFFR THREE ARRIVAL was programmed into the FMS and crossing restrictions were confirmed present and correct. Autopilot and Autothrottles were armed and the Aircraft was traveling at approximately 300 KTS. After crossing EDANE at FL240 we were instructed to descend via the KEFFR THREE ARRIVAL. We set 8000 ft (altitude at KEFFR) and armed VNAV. Shortly after we noticed that the aircraft was not descending; that the VNAV path vector was displaying erroneous information and that the left and right VNAV indicator on the PFDs did not match. We armed Vertical Speed and set a rate of 3000 ft/minute. Shortly after the controller asked if we were descending on the arrival and we confirmed that we were. The controller then instructed us to increase our descent rate because he didn't think we would be able to meet the restriction at CAARR (13000 ft/280 KTS). We set our descent rate to 5000 ft/min. Shortly after he instructed us to level off at FL180. We entered FL180 into the Altitude Selector. The Auto Pilot was unable to level off at FL180; possibly due to the time permitted; aircraft speed and descent angle. We disarmed the Autopilot and stopped the descent so that we could climb back to FL180. Before we could climb back to FL180 the controller instructed us to descend via the KEFFR THREE ARRIVAL once again. We were instructed to contact the control center via phone for a possible pilot deviation.

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.

Corporate captain reported a delay in starting the descent on the keffr 3 arrival to sna which led to an overshoot at an intermediate level off. ZLA controller reported a loss of separation with an aircraft descending to psp.