A B767 flight crew descended below the ATC assigned altitude because of unfamiliarity with the flight instrument upgrade panel which required selecting HPA; then dialing the reported millibar setting and finally pushing a button to activate the altimeter transition from Standard to Hectopascals.
Synopsis
A B767 flight crew descended below the ATC assigned altitude because of unfamiliarity with the flight instrument upgrade panel which required selecting HPA; then dialing the reported millibar setting and finally pushing a button to activate the altimeter transition from Standard to Hectopascals.
Narrative
On arrival; Captain flying in 767 with the flight instrument upgrade. After leveling off at 4;000 FT; Controller asked us to verify our altitude. I had previously selected HPA on the altitude selector and selected 1007 millibars. After the second call from the Controller asking to confirm our altitude; we noticed that my switch was in HPA; the millibars were selected at 1007; but the window said STD 1007. I had not pushed the button to 'activate' the millibars. After pushing the button; millibars went green and we were around 3;730 FT. This all happened just prior to intercepting the final for the ILS. Very shortly after we intercepted final and flew the approach as normal. This was the first time into this airport and the first time I had ever flown a flight instrument upgraded 767. I had flown the 757 simulator about a year ago and was unaware of the process to go from STD to HPA and that you had to not only switch from STD to HPA and dial in the correct millibar setting; but that you also then had to 'push' the button to make it go from amber to green meaning that now it is set. More training has to be done other than a quick look at a simulator once a year. To expect a pilot who has never flown the aircraft and never has been trained in the aircraft other than watching a video and one sim to be proficient at all the aircraft systems and 'colors' of activation modes is unrealistic. More training is needed.
Second reporter narrative
We were flying on a 767 with winglets and the flight instrument upgrade; an aircraft none of us had seen in a while. It was a rushed descent while slowing down so the Captain was using speed brakes and flaps. During the arrival; while the Captain was flying at 4;000 FT; Approach Control asked us what our altitude was. The Captain's altimeter setting displayed STD and 1007 in white. He pressed the STD button to make 1007 green and we saw we were about 270 FT low and corrected back to altitude. The Controller confirmed our altitude passing 2;000 FT and 1;000 FT on the approach. Increased training on the flight instrument upgrade; perhaps a reminder to crews the day before a trip if they might have that type of aircraft so they can review the procedures.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.