B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 2828.12
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Human-Machine Interface
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Procedure; Human Factors
I was the Pilot Monitoring (PM) when we received a late change to our expected approach into Denver. We were expecting the ILS 34R and we were given a last minute change to the RNAV (RNP) Z 34R. I was busy on the radio and monitoring our descent while the Captain loaded the FMC. The Captain stated the approach was 'in the box' and proceeded to disable the DME and VOR's. He also changed the RNP value. He gave a quick brief and we verified that the airplane was set up properly (ie LNAV VNAV and we were in VNAV PATH). Everything checked out but we missed one thing. We didn't connect the HIMOM fix above the discontinuity. So the aircraft never descended like we expected. ATC queried us and realized we were too high for the approach. He canceled our approach and gave us vectors. We got down and shot a visual approach. No traffic conflict was created. The rest of our approach was uneventful.
B737NG First Officer reported an altitude deviation resulted when the FMC was improperly set up for the RNAV (RN) Z approach to 34R in DEN. Reporter stated a last minute change to the clearance contributed to the event.