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Out of 52 DC8's 3 are nonstandard cockpits which the first officer, flying, had not flown before. And thinking that engaging autoplt would engage altitude hold, didn't notice aircraft continue to climb. Both ATC and the captain called his attention to the deviation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 325250 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199601 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zla |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zla |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-8F |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 3500 |
| ASRS Report | 325250 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| 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:
Our company has 52 DC8's, 49 with standard cockpits and 3 with nonstandard cockpits. The first officer (flying) had not flown with this particular confign. On level off, the first officer engaged the autoplt, believing this would engage altitude hold, which it does not. I noticed the aircraft was still climbing while passing FL312 and arrested the climb prior to FL313. Center questioned us about the level off, then said nothing else about it. The first officer's altimeter was 100 ft lower than mine at altitude. I believe this incident is primarily due to nonstandard cockpits, particularly since only 3 aircraft are nonstandard and most of our pilots rarely see one of these. The 'standard' autoplt works nothing like the 'nonstandard' (original) one. When flying in a nonstandard aircraft, the crew must stay extra vigilant to avoid this type of mishap.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: OUT OF 52 DC8'S 3 ARE NONSTANDARD COCKPITS WHICH THE FO, FLYING, HAD NOT FLOWN BEFORE. AND THINKING THAT ENGAGING AUTOPLT WOULD ENGAGE ALT HOLD, DIDN'T NOTICE ACFT CONTINUE TO CLB. BOTH ATC AND THE CAPT CALLED HIS ATTN TO THE DEV.
Narrative: OUR COMPANY HAS 52 DC8'S, 49 WITH STANDARD COCKPITS AND 3 WITH NONSTANDARD COCKPITS. THE FO (FLYING) HAD NOT FLOWN WITH THIS PARTICULAR CONFIGN. ON LEVEL OFF, THE FO ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT, BELIEVING THIS WOULD ENGAGE ALT HOLD, WHICH IT DOES NOT. I NOTICED THE ACFT WAS STILL CLBING WHILE PASSING FL312 AND ARRESTED THE CLB PRIOR TO FL313. CTR QUESTIONED US ABOUT THE LEVEL OFF, THEN SAID NOTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. THE FO'S ALTIMETER WAS 100 FT LOWER THAN MINE AT ALT. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT IS PRIMARILY DUE TO NONSTANDARD COCKPITS, PARTICULARLY SINCE ONLY 3 ACFT ARE NONSTANDARD AND MOST OF OUR PLTS RARELY SEE ONE OF THESE. THE 'STANDARD' AUTOPLT WORKS NOTHING LIKE THE 'NONSTANDARD' (ORIGINAL) ONE. WHEN FLYING IN A NONSTANDARD ACFT, THE CREW MUST STAY EXTRA VIGILANT TO AVOID THIS TYPE OF MISHAP.
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.