Narrative:

We requested a descent from FL370 to FL250 near lit due turbulence. Gradual dscnts approved by ZME to FL310. West of mem VOR cleared to FL290. Cleared to descend to FL250 almost over mem VORTAC. Descending at approximately 3000 FPM at 300 KTS to get out of turbulence. As we were passing through FL270, controller told us to stop descent at FL270. Immediate leveloff started, followed by a traffic alert (TCASII) followed by an immediate RA to climb due traffic approaching opposite direction at FL260. Stopped descent at FL266 and immediate climb to FL270. Other aircraft reported an RA maneuver. Horizontal distance from other aircraft approximately 5 NM and approximately 600 ft vertical. Controller was probably not aware of our descent rate and delayed information due radar sweep update (every 9 seconds) when he issued the clearance to stop descent at FL270. Other aircraft only seen on TCASII (no visual). WX: overcast 3000 ft above us (FL300) visibility 8-10 mi in haze. When both aircraft passed, 5 mi horizontal and 1000 ft vertical separation. Smooth TCASII RA maneuver -- passenger unaware of problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PASSING THROUGH FL270 IN A RAPID DSCNT A B727 CREW IS INSTRUCTED BY ZME TO MAINTAIN FL270 BECAUSE OF OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC AT FL260.

Narrative: WE REQUESTED A DSCNT FROM FL370 TO FL250 NEAR LIT DUE TURB. GRADUAL DSCNTS APPROVED BY ZME TO FL310. W OF MEM VOR CLRED TO FL290. CLRED TO DSND TO FL250 ALMOST OVER MEM VORTAC. DSNDING AT APPROX 3000 FPM AT 300 KTS TO GET OUT OF TURB. AS WE WERE PASSING THROUGH FL270, CTLR TOLD US TO STOP DSCNT AT FL270. IMMEDIATE LEVELOFF STARTED, FOLLOWED BY A TFC ALERT (TCASII) FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE RA TO CLB DUE TFC APCHING OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT FL260. STOPPED DSCNT AT FL266 AND IMMEDIATE CLB TO FL270. OTHER ACFT RPTED AN RA MANEUVER. HORIZ DISTANCE FROM OTHER ACFT APPROX 5 NM AND APPROX 600 FT VERT. CTLR WAS PROBABLY NOT AWARE OF OUR DSCNT RATE AND DELAYED INFO DUE RADAR SWEEP UPDATE (EVERY 9 SECONDS) WHEN HE ISSUED THE CLRNC TO STOP DSCNT AT FL270. OTHER ACFT ONLY SEEN ON TCASII (NO VISUAL). WX: OVCST 3000 FT ABOVE US (FL300) VISIBILITY 8-10 MI IN HAZE. WHEN BOTH ACFT PASSED, 5 MI HORIZ AND 1000 FT VERT SEPARATION. SMOOTH TCASII RA MANEUVER -- PAX UNAWARE OF PROB.

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.