Narrative:

Scheduled flight form atl to dtw. We were working with cleveland center on vectors for the mizar one arrival about 15 mi west of mizar intersection. During descent to FL210, the first officer, who was flying, changed modes on the automatic pilot after altitude capture. We continued to FL206. He tried to correct by overriding the autoplt but had trouble with the autoplt trim. The autoplt trim light was on so he disconnected and manually returned to FL210. No TCASII alert or anything from center. Subsequent attempts to use the autoplt were met with more trim problems and disconnects causing much distraction. We were getting many vectors, altitude changes and speed changes with our autoplt problem. We were told to depart mizar intersection heading 040 degrees. We missed mizar and turned at razim, 14 mi late. After the turn, approach asked if we had turned or if we had a wind shift. After some discussion, we realized our second problem within 10 mins. We had turned late. No TCASII or reported traffic conflict reported. A call to approach control on the phone after landing again indicated no conflict just 'a point out.' we gathered our thoughts on the ground, checked all automatic pilot and trim functions then finished our trip. As an aside, this was our 4TH day after an early am getup. It was also the 10TH day of flying for the first officer out of the last 11. On automation and how quickly things can go 'south' when it breaks.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC INSTRUCTION RESULTS IN ALT DEV ALT OVERSHOT AND HDG TRACK POS DEV.

Narrative: SCHEDULED FLT FORM ATL TO DTW. WE WERE WORKING WITH CLEVELAND CTR ON VECTORS FOR THE MIZAR ONE ARR ABOUT 15 MI W OF MIZAR INTXN. DURING DSCNT TO FL210, THE FO, WHO WAS FLYING, CHANGED MODES ON THE AUTO PLT AFTER ALT CAPTURE. WE CONTINUED TO FL206. HE TRIED TO CORRECT BY OVERRIDING THE AUTOPLT BUT HAD TROUBLE WITH THE AUTOPLT TRIM. THE AUTOPLT TRIM LIGHT WAS ON SO HE DISCONNECTED AND MANUALLY RETURNED TO FL210. NO TCASII ALERT OR ANYTHING FROM CTR. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO USE THE AUTOPLT WERE MET WITH MORE TRIM PROBS AND DISCONNECTS CAUSING MUCH DISTRACTION. WE WERE GETTING MANY VECTORS, ALT CHANGES AND SPD CHANGES WITH OUR AUTOPLT PROB. WE WERE TOLD TO DEPART MIZAR INTXN HDG 040 DEGS. WE MISSED MIZAR AND TURNED AT RAZIM, 14 MI LATE. AFTER THE TURN, APCH ASKED IF WE HAD TURNED OR IF WE HAD A WIND SHIFT. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, WE REALIZED OUR SECOND PROB WITHIN 10 MINS. WE HAD TURNED LATE. NO TCASII OR RPTED TFC CONFLICT RPTED. A CALL TO APCH CTL ON THE PHONE AFTER LNDG AGAIN INDICATED NO CONFLICT JUST 'A POINT OUT.' WE GATHERED OUR THOUGHTS ON THE GND, CHKED ALL AUTO PLT AND TRIM FUNCTIONS THEN FINISHED OUR TRIP. AS AN ASIDE, THIS WAS OUR 4TH DAY AFTER AN EARLY AM GETUP. IT WAS ALSO THE 10TH DAY OF FLYING FOR THE FO OUT OF THE LAST 11. ON AUTOMATION AND HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN GO 'S' WHEN IT BREAKS.

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.