B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 14500; Flight Crew Type 9000
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
On the River Arrival; ATC wanted us to slow from 250 KTS to 210 KTS. The FP used Level Change to slow down as sometimes VNAV does not slow down quickly. The VNAV was not reengaged and we got low on the arrival.
On descent into LAX; ATC asked that we slow from high speed to 250 KTS. VNAV was doing a poor job of slowing the aircraft in a timely fashion. I selected level change and 250 KTS to speed the slowing. I announced that level change had been selected and that I would re-engage VNAV once we were on profile at 250 KTS. Additional approach duties ensued and I failed to re engage VNAV prior to next crossing restriction on the arrival. We descended below the crossing altitude at the next fix by 500-600 FT.
B737 flight crew reports getting low on the RIIVR 2 arrival into LAX when asked to slow. The MCP is switched from VNAV to level change and 250 set in the speed window to slow more rapidly and VNAV is not re-selected in a timely manor.