Pilot of light aircraft experiences carburetor ice on climb, is distracted, and overshoots assigned ...

Attributes
ACN	126445
Time
Date	198910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	126445
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My altitude clearance limit was 3000 MSL, expecting 7000 in 2 more mins. I climbed to 3400 because I was distracted by what I first diagnosed as a partial engine failure. It was simply heavy carburetor icing. I own this small aircraft X and had experienced icing before, many times, but it never sounded like this! The bay approach controller called my attention to the altitude deviation and I acknowledged and corrected. To prevent a recurrence, don't stop scanning because of what you perceive to be an emergency. The scan will most likely point to a solution and if you think it truly is an emergency -- declare one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LIGHT ACFT EXPERIENCES CARBURETOR ICE ON CLIMB, IS DISTRACTED, AND OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: MY ALT CLRNC LIMIT WAS 3000 MSL, EXPECTING 7000 IN 2 MORE MINS. I CLIMBED TO 3400 BECAUSE I WAS DISTRACTED BY WHAT I FIRST DIAGNOSED AS A PARTIAL ENGINE FAILURE. IT WAS SIMPLY HEAVY CARBURETOR ICING. I OWN THIS SMA X AND HAD EXPERIENCED ICING BEFORE, MANY TIMES, BUT IT NEVER SOUNDED LIKE THIS! THE BAY APCH CTLR CALLED MY ATTN TO THE ALT DEVIATION AND I ACKNOWLEDGED AND CORRECTED. TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE, DON'T STOP SCANNING BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU PERCEIVE TO BE AN EMER. THE SCAN WILL MOST LIKELY POINT TO A SOLUTION AND IF YOU THINK IT TRULY IS AN EMER -- DECLARE ONE.

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.

Pilot of light aircraft experiences carburetor ice on climb, is distracted, and overshoots assigned altitude.