RJ85 flight crew misses illegal crossing restr given by ZBW.

Attributes
ACN	452995
Time
Date	199910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zbw.artcc
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl single value : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	452995
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Clearance was to cross delancy VOR (dny) at FL180. We were level cruise at FL290. Dny VOR was decommissioned, but FMS users were using a replacement fix named delanc. As we neared dny, I became concerned that the captain had not initiated a descent to cross dny at FL180. I reminded him of the clearance and suggested he start descent. He said we had 'plenty' of time. From my computations, we needed at least 3500 FPM descent to comply with clearance, which he used only 1500 FPM initially. From my instruments, we cleared dny at approximately FL190. ZBW did not comment on our crossing of dny. The captain is fairly new to jet equipment and I feel he is not used to the higher descent rates required at higher ground speeds. I also feel he should have heeded my suggestion to start down rather than waiting till the last possible moment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RJ85 FLC MISSES ILLEGAL XING RESTR GIVEN BY ZBW.

Narrative: CLRNC WAS TO CROSS DELANCY VOR (DNY) AT FL180. WE WERE LEVEL CRUISE AT FL290. DNY VOR WAS DECOMMISSIONED, BUT FMS USERS WERE USING A REPLACEMENT FIX NAMED DELANC. AS WE NEARED DNY, I BECAME CONCERNED THAT THE CAPT HAD NOT INITIATED A DSCNT TO CROSS DNY AT FL180. I REMINDED HIM OF THE CLRNC AND SUGGESTED HE START DSCNT. HE SAID WE HAD 'PLENTY' OF TIME. FROM MY COMPUTATIONS, WE NEEDED AT LEAST 3500 FPM DSCNT TO COMPLY WITH CLRNC, WHICH HE USED ONLY 1500 FPM INITIALLY. FROM MY INSTS, WE CLRED DNY AT APPROX FL190. ZBW DID NOT COMMENT ON OUR XING OF DNY. THE CAPT IS FAIRLY NEW TO JET EQUIP AND I FEEL HE IS NOT USED TO THE HIGHER DSCNT RATES REQUIRED AT HIGHER GND SPDS. I ALSO FEEL HE SHOULD HAVE HEEDED MY SUGGESTION TO START DOWN RATHER THAN WAITING TILL THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT.

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.