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An A320 gains 400 ft at FL190 during initial approach while encountering an updraft coming over the ridges from the west of den. Co.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 536737 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200201 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | intersection : tomsn |
| State Reference | CO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19400 |
| Environment | |
| Weather Elements | Windshear Turbulence |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv.artcc tracon : d01.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival star : tomsn.3 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time type : 1762 |
| ASRS Report | 536737 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : clearance other anomaly other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Environmental Factor |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Altitude deviation. During descent into den on tomsn 3 arrival, deviation of approximately 400 ft high to FL194 after leveling at FL190. Backgnd: ZDV and approach informed us of moderate turbulence we might encounter during descent into den. Captain was flying with autoplt on. We crossed tomsn at FL190 and 230 KTS and were cleared to 15000 ft. Delayed the descent, knowing the worst turbulence reported below FL190 crossing the front range. The aircraft encountered an updraft and climbed uncommanded 400 ft. Both pilots noticed the climb at FL191.8 with a 400 FPM climb rate. Both pilots took action, disconnecting the autoplt and pushing stick forward. In addition, captain put out speed brakes. Aircraft continued to climb at about 800 FPM to FL194 before beginning to descend. We were then cleared to 13000 ft and the first officer informed approach that we had an uncommanded climb of 400 ft. The controller responded 'I noticed that.' we encountered moderate turbulence on descent into den.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN A320 GAINS 400 FT AT FL190 DURING INITIAL APCH WHILE ENCOUNTERING AN UPDRAFT COMING OVER THE RIDGES FROM THE W OF DEN. CO.
Narrative: ALTDEV. DURING DSCNT INTO DEN ON TOMSN 3 ARR, DEV OF APPROX 400 FT HIGH TO FL194 AFTER LEVELING AT FL190. BACKGND: ZDV AND APCH INFORMED US OF MODERATE TURB WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER DURING DSCNT INTO DEN. CAPT WAS FLYING WITH AUTOPLT ON. WE CROSSED TOMSN AT FL190 AND 230 KTS AND WERE CLRED TO 15000 FT. DELAYED THE DSCNT, KNOWING THE WORST TURB RPTED BELOW FL190 XING THE FRONT RANGE. THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED AN UPDRAFT AND CLBED UNCOMMANDED 400 FT. BOTH PLTS NOTICED THE CLB AT FL191.8 WITH A 400 FPM CLB RATE. BOTH PLTS TOOK ACTION, DISCONNECTING THE AUTOPLT AND PUSHING STICK FORWARD. IN ADDITION, CAPT PUT OUT SPD BRAKES. ACFT CONTINUED TO CLB AT ABOUT 800 FPM TO FL194 BEFORE BEGINNING TO DSND. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO 13000 FT AND THE FO INFORMED APCH THAT WE HAD AN UNCOMMANDED CLB OF 400 FT. THE CTLR RESPONDED 'I NOTICED THAT.' WE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURB ON DSCNT INTO DEN.
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.