Air carrier flight crew forgets to reset altimeter at FL180.

Attributes
ACN	222001
Time
Date	199209
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iiu
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30700 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	222001
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During climb through FL180 neither pilot remembered to change altimeter setting to 29.92 in. The departure altimeter of 30.32 was still set at level off at FL310. The error was discovered when the captain noted the TCASII showing other traffic approximately +/- 300 ft from out altitude or +/- 300 ft from multiples of 1000 ft from out altitude. We reset 29.92 and climbed to the proper altitude immediately. We know of no conflict that arose and center made no mention of the deviation. This situation occurred because both of us were distraction by other tasks (simultaneous radio calls: one to the company to make sure they had our takeoff time, the other to ARTCC with a new clearance) as we climbed through FL180 where the altimeter should have been reset. When we finished the other tasks neither of us remembered to go back and redo the checklist. (My primary responsibility as PNF). Prevention: don't initiate extraneous tasks at a critical phase of flight. Recognize distrs when they occur and go back and reaccomplish checklist. Build a habit pattern of checking for proper altimeter setting at 'one thousand prior' call.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC FORGETS TO RESET ALTIMETER AT FL180.

Narrative: DURING CLB THROUGH FL180 NEITHER PLT REMEMBERED TO CHANGE ALTIMETER SETTING TO 29.92 IN. THE DEP ALTIMETER OF 30.32 WAS STILL SET AT LEVEL OFF AT FL310. THE ERROR WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CAPT NOTED THE TCASII SHOWING OTHER TFC APPROX +/- 300 FT FROM OUT ALT OR +/- 300 FT FROM MULTIPLES OF 1000 FT FROM OUT ALT. WE RESET 29.92 AND CLBED TO THE PROPER ALT IMMEDIATELY. WE KNOW OF NO CONFLICT THAT AROSE AND CTR MADE NO MENTION OF THE DEV. THIS SITUATION OCCURRED BECAUSE BOTH OF US WERE DISTR BY OTHER TASKS (SIMULTANEOUS RADIO CALLS: ONE TO THE COMPANY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD OUR TKOF TIME, THE OTHER TO ARTCC WITH A NEW CLRNC) AS WE CLBED THROUGH FL180 WHERE THE ALTIMETER SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESET. WHEN WE FINISHED THE OTHER TASKS NEITHER OF US REMEMBERED TO GO BACK AND REDO THE CHKLIST. (MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AS PNF). PREVENTION: DON'T INITIATE EXTRANEOUS TASKS AT A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT. RECOGNIZE DISTRS WHEN THEY OCCUR AND GO BACK AND REACCOMPLISH CHKLIST. BUILD A HABIT PATTERN OF CHKING FOR PROPER ALTIMETER SETTING AT 'ONE THOUSAND PRIOR' CALL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.