Widebody transport aircraft misses crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	288510
Time
Date	199411
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : yqo
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27500 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A310
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival : profile descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 4700
ASRS Report	288510
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain (PF) started a profile descent (aircraft was A310-300) cleared to cross 20 mi west yqo FL280. PF programmed FMS with 5 mi pad (25 mi) on recommendation of PNF. Aircraft started descent but as normally the case with profile dscnts was late arriving at altitude. 5 mi pad would have compensated for this. At FL286 aircraft had slowed to 600 FPM rate of descent. FMS suddenly realized it would not make crossing restr -- pitched aircraft down to 6000 FPM rate of descent. I (PNF) told PF that it would not level off at FL280. PF attempted to correct problem by reprogramming FMS. As aircraft passed FL279 I strongly suggested PF disconnect autoplt and fly airplane. Recovery was made at FL276-275, and immediate zoom to FL280. No traffic conflict either from center or TCASII. PF was on second trip after IOE and not completely familiar with limitations of FMS and autoflt system. I probably should have taken control of aircraft sooner but difficult call to make.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB ACFT MISSES XING RESTR.

Narrative: CAPT (PF) STARTED A PROFILE DSCNT (ACFT WAS A310-300) CLRED TO CROSS 20 MI W YQO FL280. PF PROGRAMMED FMS WITH 5 MI PAD (25 MI) ON RECOMMENDATION OF PNF. ACFT STARTED DSCNT BUT AS NORMALLY THE CASE WITH PROFILE DSCNTS WAS LATE ARRIVING AT ALT. 5 MI PAD WOULD HAVE COMPENSATED FOR THIS. AT FL286 ACFT HAD SLOWED TO 600 FPM RATE OF DSCNT. FMS SUDDENLY REALIZED IT WOULD NOT MAKE XING RESTR -- PITCHED ACFT DOWN TO 6000 FPM RATE OF DSCNT. I (PNF) TOLD PF THAT IT WOULD NOT LEVEL OFF AT FL280. PF ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT PROB BY REPROGRAMMING FMS. AS ACFT PASSED FL279 I STRONGLY SUGGESTED PF DISCONNECT AUTOPLT AND FLY AIRPLANE. RECOVERY WAS MADE AT FL276-275, AND IMMEDIATE ZOOM TO FL280. NO TFC CONFLICT EITHER FROM CTR OR TCASII. PF WAS ON SECOND TRIP AFTER IOE AND NOT COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH LIMITATIONS OF FMS AND AUTOFLT SYS. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CTL OF ACFT SOONER BUT DIFFICULT CALL TO MAKE.

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.