Narrative:

Inbound to swf we received a route change and a crossing restriction simultaneously. The crossing restriction was to cross 35 NM southwest of the lhy VOR at FL180. We were using newly installed efbs which required extra time and effort to properly tune; identify; and navigate to the re-route that was issued. Once lhy was tuned and identified we discovered that the DME was erratic and indicating that we were flying away from a VOR; not toward the lhy VOR (indicating approximately 166 NM outside of the VOR). Shortly after that the DME became inoperative on both DME receivers. As we were attempting to determine our distance to lhy; new york center asked us what our rate of descent was. We replied that we had a descent rate of 4;000 FPM. New york asked us again what our rate of descent was as we descended through approximately FL200. As we descended through FL190 we were given 'descend and maintain 13;000'. Then new york center gave us a frequency change; at which point the pilot not flying said we were still not receiving DME from lhy and asked the ATC controller how far from lhy we were. The controller replied 14 NM. Although there was never verbal mention of missing the crossing restriction; it was apparent that the restriction was not complied with when given the information on our distance by the controller as we switched frequencies.human performance considerations: 1. Fatigue of the pilot flying after flying all night. 2. Unfamiliarity with the northeast navaids and using new efb equipment in the aircraft. 3. Failure to obtain distance from the VOR in a timely manner. 4. Failure to increase the rate of descent because of a loss of situational awareness due to erroneous and/or inoperative DME on the lhy VOR.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Fatigue; lack of familiarity with the area; and the newly installed EFB contributed to the failure of a B727 flight crew to comply with an ATC crossing restriction on descent.

Narrative: Inbound to SWF we received a route change and a crossing restriction simultaneously. The crossing restriction was to cross 35 NM southwest of the LHY VOR at FL180. We were using newly installed EFBs which required extra time and effort to properly tune; identify; and navigate to the re-route that was issued. Once LHY was tuned and identified we discovered that the DME was erratic and indicating that we were flying away from a VOR; not toward the LHY VOR (indicating approximately 166 NM outside of the VOR). Shortly after that the DME became inoperative on both DME receivers. As we were attempting to determine our distance to LHY; New York Center asked us what our rate of descent was. We replied that we had a descent rate of 4;000 FPM. New York asked us again what our rate of descent was as we descended through approximately FL200. As we descended through FL190 we were given 'descend and maintain 13;000'. Then New York Center gave us a frequency change; at which point the pilot not flying said we were still not receiving DME from LHY and asked the ATC Controller how far from LHY we were. The Controller replied 14 NM. Although there was never verbal mention of missing the crossing restriction; it was apparent that the restriction was not complied with when given the information on our distance by the Controller as we switched frequencies.Human Performance Considerations: 1. Fatigue of the pilot flying after flying all night. 2. Unfamiliarity with the northeast navaids and using new EFB equipment in the aircraft. 3. Failure to obtain distance from the VOR in a timely manner. 4. Failure to increase the rate of descent because of a loss of situational awareness due to erroneous and/or inoperative DME on the LHY VOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.