Pilot distraction aircraft equipment problem and failed to maintain assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	237131
Time
Date	199303
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : isp
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 520 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	237131
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

IFR flight plan mmu direct isp. Cleared for the visual runway 15R. On base leg at 1700 ft MSL only had '2 green.' advised tower I had a problem and wanted to work on it. Tower told me to maintain 2000 ft, 240 degrees and contact approach. When I contacted approach I had descended to 1500 ft (being preoccupied). The golden rule is fly the airplane first and I had forgotten this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT DISTR ACFT EQUIP PROB AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN MMU DIRECT ISP. CLRED FOR THE VISUAL RWY 15R. ON BASE LEG AT 1700 FT MSL ONLY HAD '2 GREEN.' ADVISED TWR I HAD A PROB AND WANTED TO WORK ON IT. TWR TOLD ME TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT, 240 DEGS AND CONTACT APCH. WHEN I CONTACTED APCH I HAD DSNDED TO 1500 FT (BEING PREOCCUPIED). THE GOLDEN RULE IS FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST AND I HAD FORGOTTEN THIS.

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.