Corp pilot unable to make crossing restriction during descent into ict because descent clearance iss...

Attributes
ACN	209778
Time
Date	199205
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ict
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc tracon : ict
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	209778
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

En route to ict at FL200, ATC issued the following clearance at approximately 75 northeast of ict. 'Cross 40 northeast of ict VOR at and maintain 6000 ft.' I accepted the clearance and started on immediate descent. Descending through 150, 1 passenger complained of ear problems and I found myself in a situation of being unable to maintain a comfortable descent rate and also comply with the crossing restriction. The passenger was in obvious pain so I called ATC twice to inform them that I would be unable to comply with the crossing restriction. On the second radio call ATC acknowledged my transmission and handed me off to another controller. I am not sure at this time whether or not the ATC controller understood my transmission or not because of the immediate handoff, and I did not want to delay changing to the next controller because if there was a possible traffic conflict I was assuming it was in the next controllers airspace. Looking back I should not have accepted the crossing restriction that required abnormal descent rates (for passengers) and do wish I could have had earlier warning of the crossing restriction. Apparently this crossing restriction is local in nature (not published) and should be made known to those flying a little earlier in the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP PLT UNABLE TO MAKE XING RESTRICTION DURING DSCNT INTO ICT BECAUSE DSCNT CLRNC ISSUED LATE AND PAX HAD EAR PROBLEM DUE TO RAPID RATE OF DSCNT.

Narrative: ENRTE TO ICT AT FL200, ATC ISSUED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC AT APPROX 75 NE OF ICT. 'CROSS 40 NE OF ICT VOR AT AND MAINTAIN 6000 FT.' I ACCEPTED THE CLRNC AND STARTED ON IMMEDIATE DSCNT. DSNDING THROUGH 150, 1 PAX COMPLAINED OF EAR PROBLEMS AND I FOUND MYSELF IN A SITUATION OF BEING UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A COMFORTABLE DSCNT RATE AND ALSO COMPLY WITH THE XING RESTRICTION. THE PAX WAS IN OBVIOUS PAIN SO I CALLED ATC TWICE TO INFORM THEM THAT I WOULD BE UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE XING RESTRICTION. ON THE SECOND RADIO CALL ATC ACKNOWLEDGED MY XMISSION AND HANDED ME OFF TO ANOTHER CTLR. I AM NOT SURE AT THIS TIME WHETHER OR NOT THE ATC CTLR UNDERSTOOD MY XMISSION OR NOT BECAUSE OF THE IMMEDIATE HDOF, AND I DID NOT WANT TO DELAY CHANGING TO THE NEXT CTLR BECAUSE IF THERE WAS A POSSIBLE TFC CONFLICT I WAS ASSUMING IT WAS IN THE NEXT CTLRS AIRSPACE. LOOKING BACK I SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED THE XING RESTRICTION THAT REQUIRED ABNORMAL DSCNT RATES (FOR PAXS) AND DO WISH I COULD HAVE HAD EARLIER WARNING OF THE XING RESTRICTION. APPARENTLY THIS XING RESTRICTION IS LCL IN NATURE (NOT PUBLISHED) AND SHOULD BE MADE KNOWN TO THOSE FLYING A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

Corp pilot unable to make crossing restriction during descent into ict because descent clearance issued late and passenger had ear problem due to rapid rate of descent.