A falcon 900 loses 600 ft from their assigned altitude of 3000 ft when the PIC attempts to demonstrate a new FMC programming technique to the flying first officer. Aircraft was making an approach into merrit island and under control of cocoa approach controller.

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Attributes
ACN	428430
Time
Date	199902
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tix.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2400 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Falcon 900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	428430
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	428086
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : regained aircraft control
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Aircraft was on an assigned heading and altitude just prior to being given a clearance for visual approach to the airport. PNF was attempting to quickly demonstrate a new programming technique on the FMS to PF and changed the active course guidance in the primary FMS, causing previously selected lateral and vertical guidance modes to cancel and default to roll and pitch. Altitude deviation from assigned altitudes was approximately 600 ft. PNF did not demonstrate accepted CRM for use in the modern automated cockpit. PNF has realized his mistake and will employ better procedures while operating the highly automated aircraft by: 1) never change aircraft course without first being requested to do so, or getting a clear acknowledgement prior to change. 2) never perform offside changes unless requested to do so.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FALCON 900 LOSES 600 FT FROM THEIR ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000 FT WHEN THE PIC ATTEMPTS TO DEMONSTRATE A NEW FMC PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUE TO THE FLYING FO. ACFT WAS MAKING AN APCH INTO MERRIT ISLAND AND UNDER CTL OF COCOA APCH CTLR.

Narrative: ACFT WAS ON AN ASSIGNED HDG AND ALT JUST PRIOR TO BEING GIVEN A CLRNC FOR VISUAL APCH TO THE ARPT. PNF WAS ATTEMPTING TO QUICKLY DEMONSTRATE A NEW PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUE ON THE FMS TO PF AND CHANGED THE ACTIVE COURSE GUIDANCE IN THE PRIMARY FMS, CAUSING PREVIOUSLY SELECTED LATERAL AND VERT GUIDANCE MODES TO CANCEL AND DEFAULT TO ROLL AND PITCH. ALTDEV FROM ASSIGNED ALTS WAS APPROX 600 FT. PNF DID NOT DEMONSTRATE ACCEPTED CRM FOR USE IN THE MODERN AUTOMATED COCKPIT. PNF HAS REALIZED HIS MISTAKE AND WILL EMPLOY BETTER PROCS WHILE OPERATING THE HIGHLY AUTOMATED ACFT BY: 1) NEVER CHANGE ACFT COURSE WITHOUT FIRST BEING REQUESTED TO DO SO, OR GETTING A CLR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PRIOR TO CHANGE. 2) NEVER PERFORM OFFSIDE CHANGES UNLESS REQUESTED TO DO SO.

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.