A300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
While on the ILS final approach to LAX Runway 25L and VFR; we were told to maintain 250 KTS until notified. I think approaching HUNDA Approach Control said maintain 210 KTS minimum. The Captain then commanded landing gear down to slow the speed and descend; as we were above glide path and fast. Between HUNDA and LIMMA Approach Control gave us 180 KTS to LIMMA and contact Tower. The pilot flying used vertical speed (VS) to descend. I thought about this after the fact; when the pilot flying activated VS that took us out of land mode. Therefore; the aircraft went through the glide path and did not intercept because land was no longer armed. During this time the pilot not flying was performing the Before Landing Checklist and talking to Tower. At about 1;500 FT at LIMMA we both recognized the low altitude as did Tower. The pilot flying was correcting and configuring. The lowest altitude was 1;300 ft. We were VFR the entire time and I think fully configured at 1;000 FT AGL. We re-intercepted the glide path at about 1;300 FT-1;500 FT and were on speed and stable well prior to 500 FT AGL. Lack of attention to automation. Get permission to slow earlier; de-automate sooner; i.e. autopilot off and hand fly. Both pilots pay closer attention to raw data and what is armed on the FCP.
My first mistake was to not have aggressively demanded a slower speed sooner; as this aircraft will not slow down rapidly in a descent. However; had I taken more appropriate actions we could have accomplished what was necessary. I should have extended the gear; deployed full speedbrakes and began my descent to a minimum of 1;900 FT. When level at 1;900 FT; slowed the aircraft to the targeted speed and assure glideslope interseption. If speed did not diminish to what was necessary then at the appropriate time; then perform a missed approach. I am confident; that had I chosen this course of action an appropriate result would have been accomplished.
A300 First Officer reports descending below the glide path during an ILS approach in VMC; due to lack of attention to the automation. Both the crew and the Tower detect the low flight path at about 1;400 FT AGL and the aircraft is returned to glide path.