A CANADAIR CL65 FLC WAS GIVEN A 300 FT DSCNT TO FL217 BY ZAU. THE FLC DSNDED THROUGH THE ASSIGNED ALT AND RECEIVED A TCASII RA NEAR PMM.

Narrative

A FEW SECONDS AFTER I WENT TO CABIN INTERPHONE; CTR POINTED OUT SOME TFC. WE OBSERVED THE TFC ON THE TCASII AT ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK POS AND 10 MI; A FEW HUNDRED FT ABOVE US. A FEW SECONDS LATER; CTR CLRED US TO DSND 300 FT. THE FO DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND BEGAN THE DSCNT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER CTR CLRED US TO CLB BACK UP TO FL220. I HEARD THE FO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CLRNC; AND SAW HIM TURNING THE AUTOFLT VERT SPD WHEEL. I DIDN'T REMEMBER THAT THE AUTOPLT WAS OFF. THE DSCNT CONTINUED AT SEVERAL HUNDRED FPM. I VERBALLY REMINDED THE FO TO STOP THE DSCNT. THE FO TOLD ME THAT HE'D FORGOTTEN THAT THE AUTOPLT WAS OFF. WE NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT ON THE TCASII; THE FO HALTED THE DSCNT AND STARTED TO CLB; AND WE GOT A TCASII RA SAYING 'DSND!' THE FO MOVED TO INCREASE THE CLB; AND I SAID 'NO; FOLLOW THE RA!' HE REVERSED THE DIRECTION AGAIN AND DSNDED TO FOLLOW THE RA. MODE CONFUSION -- HAND FLYING VERSUS AUTOPLT. SOME DISTR WONDERING ABOUT THE UNUSUAL CLRNC TO DSND 300 FT. COMPLACENCY -- NO URGENCY; NO NEED TO DO ANYTHING IN A HURRY!