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B190 flight crew acknowledge descent clearance to 12000 ft, but are challenged by ZBW when observed at 11000 ft. First officer admits to captain that the swede STAR states to expect a crossing restr of 11000 ft, so the first officer continued descent.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 508370 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200104 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : stela |
| State Reference | MA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Beech 1900 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival star : swede one |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time total : 2905 flight time type : 1100 |
| ASRS Report | 508370 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
ZBW cleared us from 15000 ft to 12000 ft. As PNF, I set the altitude alerter to 12000 ft, confirmed altitude with center and copilot, who was the PF, and acknowledged the 12000 ft limitation. The copilot initiated the descent and returned to finishing up some paperwork. We leveled off and cruised for some time before center confirmed our assigned altitude was 12000 ft. I checked our altitude and we were at 11000 ft. I conferred with center and we were told to maintain 11000 ft. Then I asked my copilot why we were 1000 ft lower than assigned altitude. It was then explained to me that we are normally assigned 11000 ft prior to stela fix. Upon referring to the 'swede 1 arrival' STAR for bdl international, there is a note to 'expect to cross at 11000 ft.' I reminded him that even though the STAR states, that we can expect to cross a fix at a particular altitude, it doesn't mean we are cleared to do so. Also, the altitude alerter did not provide an indication or aural warning of the altitude deviation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B190 FLT CREW ACKNOWLEDGE DSCNT CLRNC TO 12000 FT, BUT ARE CHALLENGED BY ZBW WHEN OBSERVED AT 11000 FT. FO ADMITS TO CAPT THAT THE SWEDE STAR STATES TO EXPECT A XING RESTR OF 11000 FT, SO THE FO CONTINUED DSCNT.
Narrative: ZBW CLRED US FROM 15000 FT TO 12000 FT. AS PNF, I SET THE ALT ALERTER TO 12000 FT, CONFIRMED ALT WITH CTR AND COPLT, WHO WAS THE PF, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE 12000 FT LIMITATION. THE COPLT INITIATED THE DSCNT AND RETURNED TO FINISHING UP SOME PAPERWORK. WE LEVELED OFF AND CRUISED FOR SOME TIME BEFORE CTR CONFIRMED OUR ASSIGNED ALT WAS 12000 FT. I CHKED OUR ALT AND WE WERE AT 11000 FT. I CONFERRED WITH CTR AND WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN 11000 FT. THEN I ASKED MY COPLT WHY WE WERE 1000 FT LOWER THAN ASSIGNED ALT. IT WAS THEN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT WE ARE NORMALLY ASSIGNED 11000 FT PRIOR TO STELA FIX. UPON REFERRING TO THE 'SWEDE 1 ARR' STAR FOR BDL INTL, THERE IS A NOTE TO 'EXPECT TO CROSS AT 11000 FT.' I REMINDED HIM THAT EVEN THOUGH THE STAR STATES, THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO CROSS A FIX AT A PARTICULAR ALT, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE CLRED TO DO SO. ALSO, THE ALT ALERTER DID NOT PROVIDE AN INDICATION OR AURAL WARNING OF THE ALTDEV.
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.