A320 flight crew during descent exceeds the 250 KT rule below 10000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	694536
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2600
ASRS Report	694536
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : airspd indicator other flight crewa other flight crewb other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overrode automation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Captain was using the 'expedite' mode to descend to 11000 ft (?) cleared to 8000 ft. Approaching 11000 ft at over 320 KIAS it was apparent the flight director was not commanding a deceleration. I said; 'speed.' captain replied; 'it's automatic.' I repeated louder; 'speed!' he repeated that it was slowing automatically. At 11000 ft with a huge descent rate and a whole bunch of KTS I shouted 'speed!' and he finally disconnected the autoplt and scooped it out at around 9600 ft at 330 KIAS or so. The rest of the approach and landing were uneventful. I'm guessing it captured 11000 ft way early due to the rate of descent; then when I set 8000 ft it reverted like it should to present vertical speed; and thus; wasn't slowing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW DURING DSCNT EXCEEDS THE 250 KT RULE BELOW 10000 FT.

Narrative: CAPT WAS USING THE 'EXPEDITE' MODE TO DSND TO 11000 FT (?) CLRED TO 8000 FT. APCHING 11000 FT AT OVER 320 KIAS IT WAS APPARENT THE FLT DIRECTOR WAS NOT COMMANDING A DECELERATION. I SAID; 'SPD.' CAPT REPLIED; 'IT'S AUTOMATIC.' I REPEATED LOUDER; 'SPD!' HE REPEATED THAT IT WAS SLOWING AUTOMATICALLY. AT 11000 FT WITH A HUGE DSCNT RATE AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF KTS I SHOUTED 'SPD!' AND HE FINALLY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND SCOOPED IT OUT AT AROUND 9600 FT AT 330 KIAS OR SO. THE REST OF THE APCH AND LNDG WERE UNEVENTFUL. I'M GUESSING IT CAPTURED 11000 FT WAY EARLY DUE TO THE RATE OF DSCNT; THEN WHEN I SET 8000 FT IT REVERTED LIKE IT SHOULD TO PRESENT VERT SPD; AND THUS; WASN'T SLOWING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.