<< >> NASA ASRS Report 544494, April 2002

Speed deviation occurs when the flight crew of a B737 is distraction by an incorrect ATC clearance descending into phx, az.

Attributes
ACN	544494
Time
Date	200204
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zab.artcc
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-600
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 19000
ASRS Report	544494
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : a/t redway lite other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Expedited a descent to FL290 by disconnecting autothrottles. (PF error, my error.) ATC cleared us to a fix behind us on the STAR to phx. We questioned ATC and he issued the same clearance. While searching our stars, no one was 'flying the aircraft' with the safety net (the autothrottles off). Speed decreased to below 200 KTS when I noticed it and made a smooth application of power. No altitude was lost. On third request, ATC said 'my error.' ATC also gave same wrong clearance to another aircraft. Aircraft did not stall. Suggest ATC issuing accurate clrncs. Someone always flying/monitoring aircraft. Don't disengage autothrottles at altitude. Don't cancel autothrottle red warning light.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SPD DEV OCCURS WHEN THE FLC OF A B737 IS DISTR BY AN INCORRECT ATC CLRNC DSNDING INTO PHX, AZ.

Narrative: EXPEDITED A DSCNT TO FL290 BY DISCONNECTING AUTOTHROTTLES. (PF ERROR, MY ERROR.) ATC CLRED US TO A FIX BEHIND US ON THE STAR TO PHX. WE QUESTIONED ATC AND HE ISSUED THE SAME CLRNC. WHILE SEARCHING OUR STARS, NO ONE WAS 'FLYING THE ACFT' WITH THE SAFETY NET (THE AUTOTHROTTLES OFF). SPD DECREASED TO BELOW 200 KTS WHEN I NOTICED IT AND MADE A SMOOTH APPLICATION OF PWR. NO ALT WAS LOST. ON THIRD REQUEST, ATC SAID 'MY ERROR.' ATC ALSO GAVE SAME WRONG CLRNC TO ANOTHER ACFT. ACFT DID NOT STALL. SUGGEST ATC ISSUING ACCURATE CLRNCS. SOMEONE ALWAYS FLYING/MONITORING ACFT. DON'T DISENGAGE AUTOTHROTTLES AT ALT. DON'T CANCEL AUTOTHROTTLE RED WARNING LIGHT.

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.