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CJ3 pilot reported descending without ATC clearance to regain normal airspeed after trying unsuccessfully to make a high altitude crossing restriction.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1546547 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201805 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZZ.ARTCC |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Citationjet (C525/C526) - CJ I / II / III / IV |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Climb |
| Route In Use | Oceanic |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90 Flight Crew Total 2600 Flight Crew Type 600 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Speed All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
While climbing to our cruising altitude of FL450 I was confronted with an inability to achieve the required final altitude by the commanded waypoint because of a heavy fuel load and very high isa temps (+15/+17). I was unable to make the crossing altitude restriction. In making every effort I allowed the airspeed to decay to a dangerous level; nearly stall speed; in an effort to comply. The plane got behind the power curve and would not accelerate so when I got to 15 knots over stall speed I elected to descend to a prior altitude to insure the safety of our plane and my [passengers] on board. What I did not do was advise ATC that I was taking the actions so I was criticized; correctly; and advised that a report would be filed. I admit to flying the plane first and within a hundred miles had regained air speed and altitude and completed the trip without issue. In retrospect I could have loaded less fuel but I was concerned that a deviation may be needed due to a low ceilings and high cross winds. And of course I could have and should have advised ATC and asked for a cruise level adjustment until the climb was under control.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CJ3 pilot reported descending without ATC clearance to regain normal airspeed after trying unsuccessfully to make a high altitude crossing restriction.
Narrative: While climbing to our cruising altitude of FL450 I was confronted with an inability to achieve the required final altitude by the commanded waypoint because of a heavy fuel load and very high ISA temps (+15/+17). I was unable to make the crossing altitude restriction. In making every effort I allowed the airspeed to decay to a dangerous level; nearly stall speed; in an effort to comply. The plane got behind the power curve and would not accelerate so when I got to 15 knots over stall speed I elected to descend to a prior altitude to insure the safety of our plane and my [passengers] on board. What I did not do was advise ATC that I was taking the actions so I was criticized; correctly; and advised that a report would be filed. I admit to flying the plane first and within a hundred miles had regained air speed and altitude and completed the trip without issue. In retrospect I could have loaded less fuel but I was concerned that a deviation may be needed due to a low ceilings and high cross winds. And of course I could have and should have advised ATC and asked for a cruise level adjustment until the climb was under control.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.