Altitude deviation. Excursion from assigned.

Attributes
ACN	124697
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : owb
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3500
ASRS Report	124697
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was level at 12,000' in contact with ZID. My position was approximately 30 mi south of owensboro, ky. I was looking at a form we have and had my head down when one of the nurses walked to the back. The nose of the aircraft pitched up. We hit 12,400' before I could adjust the trim. I returned to 12,000' within a few seconds. Nothing was said by center and no other aircraft were involved that I know of. We did not have a patient on board at the time, but were enroute to pick one up. This problem could have been prevented if I had been using the autoplt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED.

Narrative: I WAS LEVEL AT 12,000' IN CONTACT WITH ZID. MY POSITION WAS APPROX 30 MI S OF OWENSBORO, KY. I WAS LOOKING AT A FORM WE HAVE AND HAD MY HEAD DOWN WHEN ONE OF THE NURSES WALKED TO THE BACK. THE NOSE OF THE ACFT PITCHED UP. WE HIT 12,400' BEFORE I COULD ADJUST THE TRIM. I RETURNED TO 12,000' WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. NOTHING WAS SAID BY CENTER AND NO OTHER ACFT WERE INVOLVED THAT I KNOW OF. WE DID NOT HAVE A PATIENT ON BOARD AT THE TIME, BUT WERE ENROUTE TO PICK ONE UP. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF I HAD BEEN USING THE AUTOPLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.