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An MD80 on approach at 8000 ft incurred an altitude deviation due to the eye position indicator obscured the second number in the flight mode annunciator.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 482184 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200008 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dca.airport |
| State Reference | DC |
| Altitude | msl single value : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : dca.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Super 80 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 482184 |
| 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 altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | other other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
When seated correctly accordingly to the right eye position indicator for the captain, the second number in the altitude window is partially blocked from view for the captain. Consequently, the '8' that was set for 8000 appeared to be a '3.' a slight deviation occurred as a result. There was no problem or notification from ATC and there was no traffic to conflict with. Not all MD80's have this problem. I recommend that maintenance take a look at the altitude windows in the MD80's to see which ones have this problem and change the windows to prevent the problem.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 ON APCH AT 8000 FT INCURRED AN ALTDEV DUE TO THE EYE POS INDICATOR OBSCURED THE SECOND NUMBER IN THE FLT MODE ANNUNCIATOR.
Narrative: WHEN SEATED CORRECTLY ACCORDINGLY TO THE R EYE POS INDICATOR FOR THE CAPT, THE SECOND NUMBER IN THE ALT WINDOW IS PARTIALLY BLOCKED FROM VIEW FOR THE CAPT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE '8' THAT WAS SET FOR 8000 APPEARED TO BE A '3.' A SLIGHT DEV OCCURRED AS A RESULT. THERE WAS NO PROB OR NOTIFICATION FROM ATC AND THERE WAS NO TFC TO CONFLICT WITH. NOT ALL MD80'S HAVE THIS PROB. I RECOMMEND THAT MAINT TAKE A LOOK AT THE ALT WINDOWS IN THE MD80'S TO SEE WHICH ONES HAVE THIS PROB AND CHANGE THE WINDOWS TO PREVENT THE 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.