EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
We had briefed the LTOWN arrival to MEM and were approaching SPKER intersection when ATC asked our speed. I was PM and replied 315 KIAS. ATC informed us that the charted speed for that part of the arrival was 290 KIAS. He then instructed us to slow to 270 KIAS momentarily and then assigned us 290 KIAS as charted. The Controller mentioned that this was a common error on the new procedure. The Captain conducted what I thought was a thorough briefing. Neither of us noticed the 290 KIAS restriction attached to note Ball Note A on the chart. While I take full responsibility for failing to see this restriction I also believe from a human factors standpoint this chart needs to be improved.This plate has a very poor layout. I even remember briefing this arrival before and noting to the Captain that I thought the layout was poor and would inevitably lead to safety reports. I would bet there are a statistically significant number of altitude and speed deviations associated with this procedure. I am not trying to rationalize my failure; I should have caught this error before it lead to a speed deviation. That being said; a revision to the plate would help avoid these errors. The plate is broken into two pieces rather than the traditional fold out. The altitude and speed notes are small and easy to miss.
An E-145 flight crew flying the LTOWN RNAV STAR to MEM failed to comply with the Ball Noted 290 KTS restriction at SPKER. Unusual formatting and cluttered nature of the STAR chart was noted as a contributing factor.