Flight crew of an medium large transport air carrier aircraft were threatened by an FAA aci observer causing great emotional distraction from their assigned duties.

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Attributes
ACN	247442
Time
Date	199307
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : oma
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	247442
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 285 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	247433
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

FAA inspector on jump seat caused problem. His attitude caused the problem. Working together as friends instead of enemies is the solution. FAA inspector arrived in cockpit shortly before departure. He started asking questions before he idented himself. There was no reason for him to arrive late, the flight was already delayed 30 mins. During cruise he asked to see license and manuals. During his check he reminded us it is a $2000 fine for any missing revisions. His checks distracted us from normal duties, causing us to be hurried. Destination ATIS was inoperative causing us to use more time with company radio to get local WX. Company and ATC gave us altimeter setting 30.10. During approach we were deviating around thunderstorms and controller gave an altimeter setting of 29.96. We were not sure who that transmission was for or what airport that was for. After landing, our altimeters were 50 ft off from field elevation. In summary: I believe FAA paperwork checks should be done on the ground, not in the air. FAA inspectors intimidating threats of disciplinary action do not make for a safe flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG ACR ACFT WERE THREATENED BY AN FAA ACI OBSERVER CAUSING GREAT EMOTIONAL DISTR FROM THEIR ASSIGNED DUTIES.

Narrative: FAA INSPECTOR ON JUMP SEAT CAUSED PROB. HIS ATTITUDE CAUSED THE PROB. WORKING TOGETHER AS FRIENDS INSTEAD OF ENEMIES IS THE SOLUTION. FAA INSPECTOR ARRIVED IN COCKPIT SHORTLY BEFORE DEP. HE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS BEFORE HE IDENTED HIMSELF. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR HIM TO ARRIVE LATE, THE FLT WAS ALREADY DELAYED 30 MINS. DURING CRUISE HE ASKED TO SEE LICENSE AND MANUALS. DURING HIS CHK HE REMINDED US IT IS A $2000 FINE FOR ANY MISSING REVISIONS. HIS CHKS DISTRACTED US FROM NORMAL DUTIES, CAUSING US TO BE HURRIED. DEST ATIS WAS INOP CAUSING US TO USE MORE TIME WITH COMPANY RADIO TO GET LCL WX. COMPANY AND ATC GAVE US ALTIMETER SETTING 30.10. DURING APCH WE WERE DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS AND CTLR GAVE AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.96. WE WERE NOT SURE WHO THAT XMISSION WAS FOR OR WHAT ARPT THAT WAS FOR. AFTER LNDG, OUR ALTIMETERS WERE 50 FT OFF FROM FIELD ELEVATION. IN SUMMARY: I BELIEVE FAA PAPERWORK CHKS SHOULD BE DONE ON THE GND, NOT IN THE AIR. FAA INSPECTORS INTIMIDATING THREATS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION DO NOT MAKE FOR A SAFE FLT.

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.