A B727 captain reports failure of maintenance to repair autoplt altitude hold mode expeditiously.

Attributes
ACN	441676
Time
Date	199906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : syr.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	441676
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft came in overnight with autoplt altitude hold inoperative. On this routing this essentially requires hand-flying aircraft en route. Due to flight time (1 hour 48 mins), prospect of poor WX at destination (observation 1/4 mi fog, forecast 2), and lack of turbulence information, told flight attendants and passenger that no service would be conducted and seat belt sign would remain on through flight. Company did no troubleshooting at largest maintenance hub and through deferred item on autoplt. They view it as a convenience item rather than as a piece of equipment to enhance safety.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 CAPT RPTS FAILURE OF MAINT TO REPAIR AUTOPLT ALT HOLD MODE EXPEDITIOUSLY.

Narrative: ACFT CAME IN OVERNIGHT WITH AUTOPLT ALT HOLD INOP. ON THIS ROUTING THIS ESSENTIALLY REQUIRES HAND-FLYING ACFT ENRTE. DUE TO FLT TIME (1 HR 48 MINS), PROSPECT OF POOR WX AT DEST (OBSERVATION 1/4 MI FOG, FORECAST 2), AND LACK OF TURB INFO, TOLD FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX THAT NO SVC WOULD BE CONDUCTED AND SEAT BELT SIGN WOULD REMAIN ON THROUGH FLT. COMPANY DID NO TROUBLESHOOTING AT LARGEST MAINT HUB AND THROUGH DEFERRED ITEM ON AUTOPLT. THEY VIEW IT AS A CONVENIENCE ITEM RATHER THAN AS A PIECE OF EQUIP TO ENHANCE SAFETY.

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.