A B757 fails to descend in accord with center clearance when the crew fails to enter the new altitude into the FMS on a STAR arrival into ewr.

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Attributes
ACN	636523
Time
Date	200411
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bal.airport
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : n/a
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5815 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	636523
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar mode c other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

A very common scenario on the B757/767. While on a STAR arrival to ewr, we were issued a descent clearance from FL290 to FL280. I selected FL280 on the autoplt MCP. The captain selected VNAV. The problem was that on the B757/767 you must enter your cruise altitude both in the MCP window (autoplt) as well as the FMS. The aircraft will not change altitude unless the new altitude is entered both places. Several mins later, the center controller again issued the descent clearance, seeing that we had not descended. I saw that FL280 was in the MCP window, but failing to verify the altitude on the altimeter, I told the controller that we were at FL280. At that moment, we all 3 (captain, controller, and myself) realized that the altitude was not right. The captain and I realized what had happened. I then told the controller that we were descending to FL280, and we did.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 FAILS TO DSND IN ACCORD WITH CTR CLRNC WHEN THE CREW FAILS TO ENTER THE NEW ALT INTO THE FMS ON A STAR ARR INTO EWR.

Narrative: A VERY COMMON SCENARIO ON THE B757/767. WHILE ON A STAR ARR TO EWR, WE WERE ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC FROM FL290 TO FL280. I SELECTED FL280 ON THE AUTOPLT MCP. THE CAPT SELECTED VNAV. THE PROB WAS THAT ON THE B757/767 YOU MUST ENTER YOUR CRUISE ALT BOTH IN THE MCP WINDOW (AUTOPLT) AS WELL AS THE FMS. THE ACFT WILL NOT CHANGE ALT UNLESS THE NEW ALT IS ENTERED BOTH PLACES. SEVERAL MINS LATER, THE CTR CTLR AGAIN ISSUED THE DSCNT CLRNC, SEEING THAT WE HAD NOT DSNDED. I SAW THAT FL280 WAS IN THE MCP WINDOW, BUT FAILING TO VERIFY THE ALT ON THE ALTIMETER, I TOLD THE CTLR THAT WE WERE AT FL280. AT THAT MOMENT, WE ALL 3 (CAPT, CTLR, AND MYSELF) REALIZED THAT THE ALT WAS NOT RIGHT. THE CAPT AND I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I THEN TOLD THE CTLR THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO FL280, AND WE DID.

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.