Date: 202012
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZHU.ARTCC, TX
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class B IAH
ATC / advisory: TRACON I90
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Workload
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Software and Automation
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We were descending via the DRLLR5 arrival for Runway 26R transition and we had everything briefed and ready to go. At a point ATC changed the runway on us from [Runway] 26R to 26L so we reloaded correct runway and its respective ILS approach procedure to back up the approach. We rebriefed the approach and reloaded all frequencies again so we were ready once again for the approach. At the end of the arrival there's a fix named ZOEEE; right upon crossing that fixed; my First Officer selected HDG sync; immediately follow by HDG mode. And just like that; we were auto sequenced for the approach. ATC then came to us with right turn for a right base followed by another right turn turn intercept the localizer for Runway 26L. At that point the FO (First Officer) armed APP and we confirmed APP1 was armed. So we continue with the approach but the airplane didn't intercept the LOC but instead it continued. Before we reached the final approach course I told my First Officer 'Be careful I don't think it's going to intercept' (he didn't acknowledge) right when we reached the course I told my First Officer 'turn now...turn now!' But he didn't; so at that point I said 'I have the flight controls' and I hand flown the airplane back the final approach course. At that point ATC came to us to let us know we were showing left of course to what my First Officer responded 'We are correcting. This happened like at about 3000 ft. AGL. After I restablished the airplane on it's final approach course I asked my First Officer if he wanted the controls back and he said YES. So I transferred the controls back to him. Then I quickly checked the information and I verified that the FMS was loaded with the ILS26L; we had a good preview with right identifier IJYV and we were showing an inbound course of 267 and APP 1 was armed. So I had to reach the FMS and I activated vectors then I forced V/L on the Pilot Flying side after asking the flying pilot if he agreed with every single step. Then the airplane's automation 'woke up' and the First Officer followed the FD all the way. We were stable at 1000 ft. and we continued to landing. I think the new FMS program has a glitch or something. Apparently it doesn't auto sequence the approach the same way. This happened in another aircraft which has the latest FMS update. From now on I'm not going to trust the auto sequence on the new loads and I am going to manually sequence it from a fix on the final approach fix. This should prevent the same issue from happening again."




Synopsis: B-737 Captain reported failure of the FMS to capture final approach course following a vector to final.