Date: 201510
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: CLT.Airport, NC
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class B CLT
ATC / advisory: TRACON CLT
Aircraft component: FMS/FMC
Component problem: Design
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: We were flying the CRJ900 in VNAV mode on the FILPZ1 RNAV arrival into Charlotte; TAZZA transition. As we descended to the final fix (DOSBE) we were required to cross it at 6;000 feet MSL.  The autopilot; in VNAV mode; levelled off early and crossed DOSBE at 7;000 feet MSL.During the arrival; I had the VNAV mode engaged to the Autopilot and the altitude select was at 6;000 feet MSL.  The FMS stated 'CHECK FPLN ALT' and highlighted both fixes yellow: DOSBE (6;000 feet MSL) and WELET (7;000 feet MSL).  The aircraft descended normally until we reached DOSBE where it then crossed DOSBE at 7;000 feet. When I realized the level off I immediately went into vertical speed mode and started a 1;500 fpm descent to 6;000 feet MSL.  I have had this happen to me once before in IAD on a separate arrival; but I caught it before it required a report. I thought the aircraft maybe had some sort of glitch but I think I figured out why this is happening. During this arrival we had the ILS 36L programmed as normal; which included the discontinuity (between the arrival and approach).  The final fix on the arrival is DOSBE which is crossing at 6;000 feet MSL; and the first fix on the approach is WELET which is crossing at 7;000 feet MSL or above. The aircraft saw that WELET was further down in the LEGS page; and must have ignored the discontinuity because it levelled off at it's most restrictive altitude of 7;000 feet MSL when in reality it should have descended to 6;000 feet MSL to meet DOSBE.  I don't think the FMS/Autopilot likes the arrival fix to be lower altitude than the first approach fix altitude.


Second narrative: CLT...FLIPZ ONE RNAV ARRIVAL...While descending via; the autopilot began to level at 7;000 feet just in time to cross DOSBE at 7;000 feet. We were both monitoring the arrival; but by the time we were able to determine what the autopilot had in mind we were right on top of DOSBE at 7;000 feet....not 6;000 feet as published. The PF quickly changed to VS mode and continued on down to 6;000 feet at which time ATC instructed us to descend to 5;000 feet. Nothing was said by ATC regarding the crossing deviation. The CA and I believe since this is a new arrival it might have something to do with WELET; on 36L ILS being a 7;000 feet crossing point. When you load the approach and select WELET as the last fix (not vectors) so that you get a nice long line on your MFD perhaps it creates this issue. I spoke with another crew today that had the same thing happen recently. Perhaps this should be looked into and maybe a memo put out regarding the issue. That is all that happened. No calls or questions from ATC. Everything went just fine. There were no traffic issues of any kind.


Synopsis: CRJ900 flight crew reported crossing DOSBE at 7;000 feet on the FLIPZ1 RNAV arrival to CLT; while the required altitude at DOSBE was 6;000 feet. The aircraft was descending in VNAV with the autopilot engaged; which the Captain quickly changed to vertical speed to continue the descent to 6;000 feet. The FMC was programed with the ILS 36L and with the first fix of WELET; the FMC was honoring the WELET altitude of 7;000 feet.