An off duty captain admits that he violated the sterile cockpit concept inadvertently. Error admitte...

Attributes
ACN	349720
Time
Date	199610
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	349720
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Prior to descent into dtw on transpac flight from nrt, japan, the off duty first officer and I (also off duty) returned to cockpit. An FAA maintenance inspector was occupying the first observer's seat. The off duty first officer occupied the second observer's seat. I was in the back 'crew rest' seat. I cannot see any flight instruments from this position and was unaware of our altitude as we descended into the dtw area. I am sure the off duty first officer and I were talking below 10000 ft. It was a foolish mistake and definitely unintentional. Although this conversation did not disturb the pilots flying, it was not proper procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN OFF DUTY CAPT ADMITS THAT HE VIOLATED THE STERILE COCKPIT CONCEPT INADVERTENTLY. ERROR ADMITTED. FAR VIOLATION.

Narrative: PRIOR TO DSCNT INTO DTW ON TRANSPAC FLT FROM NRT, JAPAN, THE OFF DUTY FO AND I (ALSO OFF DUTY) RETURNED TO COCKPIT. AN FAA MAINT INSPECTOR WAS OCCUPYING THE FIRST OBSERVER'S SEAT. THE OFF DUTY FO OCCUPIED THE SECOND OBSERVER'S SEAT. I WAS IN THE BACK 'CREW REST' SEAT. I CANNOT SEE ANY FLT INSTS FROM THIS POS AND WAS UNAWARE OF OUR ALT AS WE DSNDED INTO THE DTW AREA. I AM SURE THE OFF DUTY FO AND I WERE TALKING BELOW 10000 FT. IT WAS A FOOLISH MISTAKE AND DEFINITELY UNINTENTIONAL. ALTHOUGH THIS CONVERSATION DID NOT DISTURB THE PLTS FLYING, IT WAS NOT PROPER PROC.

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.

An off duty captain admits that he violated the sterile cockpit concept inadvertently. Error admitted. Far violation.