Air carrier crew enters holding on the incorrect radial over hyp, ca.

Attributes
ACN	492480
Time
Date	200011
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hyp.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : holding
Route In Use	arrival star : hyp. hyp4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	492480
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were instructed to enter holding at hyp on the 240 degree radial, left turns. We inadvertently entered 240 degrees on the 'inbound course' line of the FMS hold page instead of on the 'quad/radial' line. After we were established in holding, ZOA asked us to verify that we were cleared to hold west of hyp. We responded in the affirmative. ZOA then cleared us to resume the SID [STAR] before we could correct our error, which we discovered on ZOA's query. We were given holding instructions when we were quite close to the hyp holding fix. In our haste to enter the data on the FMS page, we neglected to check to see that it 'looked right.' additionally, I became involved in making a PA to explain the situation to the passenger, when I should have been backing up the PF on entries into the FMS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CREW ENTERS HOLDING ON THE INCORRECT RADIAL OVER HYP, CA.

Narrative: WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO ENTER HOLDING AT HYP ON THE 240 DEG RADIAL, L TURNS. WE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED 240 DEGS ON THE 'INBOUND COURSE' LINE OF THE FMS HOLD PAGE INSTEAD OF ON THE 'QUAD/RADIAL' LINE. AFTER WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN HOLDING, ZOA ASKED US TO VERIFY THAT WE WERE CLRED TO HOLD W OF HYP. WE RESPONDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. ZOA THEN CLRED US TO RESUME THE SID [STAR] BEFORE WE COULD CORRECT OUR ERROR, WHICH WE DISCOVERED ON ZOA'S QUERY. WE WERE GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS WHEN WE WERE QUITE CLOSE TO THE HYP HOLDING FIX. IN OUR HASTE TO ENTER THE DATA ON THE FMS PAGE, WE NEGLECTED TO CHK TO SEE THAT IT 'LOOKED RIGHT.' ADDITIONALLY, I BECAME INVOLVED IN MAKING A PA TO EXPLAIN THE SIT TO THE PAX, WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BACKING UP THE PF ON ENTRIES INTO THE FMS.

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.