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Late runway change on riice arrival to iah results in excessive FMC programming; a 'computer time out' for the FMC to catch up and; ultimately; a failure to make an ATC assigned crossing restriction at lyyte.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 750995 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200708 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : iah.airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl single value : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : i90.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-90 Series (DC-9-90) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude ground : maintenance |
| Route In Use | arrival star : riice |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2500 |
| ASRS Report | 750995 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | aircraft : equipment problem dissipated none taken : detected after the fact |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On descent we were given a clearance to cross lyyte at or below 7000 ft. At the same time we were given our runway; which was different than planned. We were also told to keep our speed up past where we usually slow. Upon reaching riice; I programmed in the new runway. As I did; our approach disappeared. The approach from riice is dependent upon the particular runway. I hurried to check the chart and turn to the next point; then began slowing; then reprogrammed the approach for the correct runway. My FMS got overloaded and went to standby. After about 10 seconds; it came back and I completed the programming. I noticed myself high for lyyte and did the best I could to come down: speed brakes; even slats. Well; we crossed 1000 ft high. I should have warned the controller earlier about my dilemma but I had hoped that I could get the aircraft down in time. Next time I'll warn him though; and also try to stay better ahead of my airplane.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: LATE RWY CHANGE ON RIICE ARRIVAL TO IAH RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE FMC PROGRAMMING; A 'COMPUTER TIME OUT' FOR THE FMC TO CATCH UP AND; ULTIMATELY; A FAILURE TO MAKE AN ATC ASSIGNED CROSSING RESTRICTION AT LYYTE.
Narrative: ON DSCNT WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS LYYTE AT OR BELOW 7000 FT. AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE GIVEN OUR RWY; WHICH WAS DIFFERENT THAN PLANNED. WE WERE ALSO TOLD TO KEEP OUR SPD UP PAST WHERE WE USUALLY SLOW. UPON REACHING RIICE; I PROGRAMMED IN THE NEW RWY. AS I DID; OUR APCH DISAPPEARED. THE APCH FROM RIICE IS DEPENDENT UPON THE PARTICULAR RWY. I HURRIED TO CHK THE CHART AND TURN TO THE NEXT POINT; THEN BEGAN SLOWING; THEN REPROGRAMMED THE APCH FOR THE CORRECT RWY. MY FMS GOT OVERLOADED AND WENT TO STANDBY. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS; IT CAME BACK AND I COMPLETED THE PROGRAMMING. I NOTICED MYSELF HIGH FOR LYYTE AND DID THE BEST I COULD TO COME DOWN: SPD BRAKES; EVEN SLATS. WELL; WE CROSSED 1000 FT HIGH. I SHOULD HAVE WARNED THE CTLR EARLIER ABOUT MY DILEMMA BUT I HAD HOPED THAT I COULD GET THE ACFT DOWN IN TIME. NEXT TIME I'LL WARN HIM THOUGH; AND ALSO TRY TO STAY BETTER AHEAD OF MY AIRPLANE.
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.