2024-11 · NASA ASRS report 2186342
Air carrier flight crew reported descending below assigned altitude during arrival and not meeting a fix crossing restriction. Flight complied with ATC instructions and continued descent.
We were talking to ZZZZ Center and initially cleared from FL330 to 190. Then cleared direct to ZZZZZ for the ZZZZZX arrival to 16000. I cannot recall if this was a descend via" or "descend to" clearance. I however suspect "descend via" based on what happened next.Captain engaged flight level change because we wanted to get down faster to burn off gas. We calculated a required land fuel to be just below 575 (max land weight) and we were focused on that weight since we were very close.ZZZZZ had an at/above restriction of 18000 on the STAR. We were approaching ZZZZZ descending through 18000 and Center asked to the effect of "are we crossing ZZZZZ at 18000?" We replied with our altitude which was below 18 and descending close to 16000. They then asked "can we maintain VMC?" and we replied affirmative that we were VMC and could remain so. They then told us to maintain 16;000 and VMC. Nothing else was heard after this and received a frequency change. There was no other traffic in the area. Rest of the approach was uneventful.Complicating factors included 5 trip revisions (the original departure had moved by 36+ hours since awarded the trip); fatigue as we were delayed on departure for a late jet; a very complex STAR and approach along with 6 MELs; one requiring us to start the APU before landing. We were very focused on multiple tasks and likely missed an altitude step down fix."
Descending into ZZZZ; ZZZZ ATC cleared us to descend to 16;000 ft. Then we were cleared via ZZZZZX. ( we weren't given a descend via clearance) We had to burn fuel to get aircraft below MLGW. I selected FLCH to get down to 16;000 ft. When we leveled off at 16;000 ft the controller told us to maintain 18;000 ft. Note there is an altitude on the Star to be at ZZZZZ above 18;000 ft.We replied that we were level at 16;000. The controller asked if we were VMC. We were and replied that we were VMC. Controller told us to maintain 16;00O and descend via the ZZZZZX. At some point we were cleared direct ZZZZZ1.I will definitely be more cognizant of crossing altitude restrictions when using FLCH.The initial altitude descend clearance the way it was given was before the Star clearance and I gave priority to the descent clearance without looking ahead for altitudes above our 16;000 ft clearance.Cause: Altitude clearance below a down line fix at ZZZZZ at or above 18;000 ft on STAROur cleared to descend altitude was 16;000 ft well before ZZZZZ fix
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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