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B747-400 flight crew reports misunderstanding an expected clearance as a clearance to descend; and descend early during vectors for approach to runway 27 at vabb. Upon being cleared to descend to 3;700 ft qnh is overlooked passing the transition level at FL050 resulting in a descent to 3;500 ft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 963774 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201108 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | VABB.TRACON |
| State Reference | FO |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B747-400 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 173 Flight Crew Total 16000 Flight Crew Type 1000 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 58 Flight Crew Total 8100 Flight Crew Type 400 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT |
Narrative:
We intercepted the loc for runway 27 at 7;000 ft. We asked for clearance to deviate from localizer for a storm cell. Controller approved and also advised to expect descent to 3;700 at 25 DME. Because of controller speaking rapidly with heavy accent and giving unexpected information; we at first thought we were cleared to descend at that time. Controller advised us to maintain 7;000. At 25 DME we were given clearance to descend to 3;700 ft. We knew there was terrain at 2;700 ft; however we then neglected to set local altimeter setting passing the transition level of FL050. Controller advised he had a low altitude warning for us; we then recovered to 3;700 ft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B747-400 flight crew reports misunderstanding an expected clearance as a clearance to descend; and descend early during vectors for approach to Runway 27 at VABB. Upon being cleared to descend to 3;700 FT QNH is overlooked passing the transition level at FL050 resulting in a descent to 3;500 FT.
Narrative: We intercepted the Loc for Runway 27 at 7;000 FT. We asked for clearance to deviate from Localizer for a storm cell. Controller approved and also advised to expect descent to 3;700 at 25 DME. Because of Controller speaking rapidly with heavy accent and giving unexpected information; we at first thought we were cleared to descend at that time. Controller advised us to maintain 7;000. At 25 DME we were given clearance to descend to 3;700 FT. We knew there was terrain at 2;700 FT; however we then neglected to set local altimeter setting passing the transition level of FL050. Controller advised he had a low altitude warning for us; we then recovered to 3;700 FT.
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.