<< >> NASA ASRS Report 428882, February 1999

A BAE4100 descends too soon during the ewr ILS approach to runway 22L. Approach controller's clearance was cited as being controversial and in conflict with the approach chart.

Attributes
ACN	428882
Time
Date	199902
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : teb.vor
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 200 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : ewr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 41
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : ewr22l other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : teb.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : dalton
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 : 7000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	428882
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time total : 1400
ASRS Report	428877
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : mode c other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : separated traffic flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : n90.tracon
Chart	approach : ewrils22l

Narrative:

New york approach control issued the clearance '3000 ft until established cleared the ILS runway 22L ewr.' we were established on the localizer prior to teb VOR and upon crossing, we began a descent to the published altitude on the approach chart of 1500 ft MSL. Tower advised us that we were supposed to maintain 3000 ft until GS intercept, while we were descending below 2000 ft MSL. We then climbed back up and intercepted the GS. There were no traffic conflicts. If intercepting the GS at 3000 ft is what they normally expect, it should be noted on the approach chart or specifically issued. Supplemental information from acn 428877: on radar vectors with new york approach, given a heading and '3000 ft until established on ILS runway 22L localizer, cleared ILS runway 22L ewr.' flight was established on localizer prior to teb VOR. 1 mi past teb VOR, flight started descent to 1500 ft as published on ILS runway 22L ewr chart. At approximately 2000 ft, tower instructed the flight to climb back to 2500 ft due to teb traffic. Tower then advised that aircraft are to maintain 3000 ft until GS intercept. I believe that if aircraft are to maintain 3000 ft till GS intercept that the approach plate needs to be updated to state the '3000 ft till GS intercept' instruction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BAE4100 DSNDS TOO SOON DURING THE EWR ILS APCH TO RWY 22L. APCH CTLR'S CLRNC WAS CITED AS BEING CONTROVERSIAL AND IN CONFLICT WITH THE APCH CHART.

Narrative: NEW YORK APCH CTL ISSUED THE CLRNC '3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED CLRED THE ILS RWY 22L EWR.' WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC PRIOR TO TEB VOR AND UPON XING, WE BEGAN A DSCNT TO THE PUBLISHED ALT ON THE APCH CHART OF 1500 FT MSL. TWR ADVISED US THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL GS INTERCEPT, WHILE WE WERE DSNDING BELOW 2000 FT MSL. WE THEN CLBED BACK UP AND INTERCEPTED THE GS. THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS. IF INTERCEPTING THE GS AT 3000 FT IS WHAT THEY NORMALLY EXPECT, IT SHOULD BE NOTED ON THE APCH CHART OR SPECIFICALLY ISSUED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 428877: ON RADAR VECTORS WITH NEW YORK APCH, GIVEN A HDG AND '3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON ILS RWY 22L LOC, CLRED ILS RWY 22L EWR.' FLT WAS ESTABLISHED ON LOC PRIOR TO TEB VOR. 1 MI PAST TEB VOR, FLT STARTED DSCNT TO 1500 FT AS PUBLISHED ON ILS RWY 22L EWR CHART. AT APPROX 2000 FT, TWR INSTRUCTED THE FLT TO CLB BACK TO 2500 FT DUE TO TEB TFC. TWR THEN ADVISED THAT ACFT ARE TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL GS INTERCEPT. I BELIEVE THAT IF ACFT ARE TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT TILL GS INTERCEPT THAT THE APCH PLATE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED TO STATE THE '3000 FT TILL GS INTERCEPT' INSTRUCTION.

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.