Altitude heading track deviation in a non adherence to ATC clearance in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	262708
Time
Date	199401
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fdy
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tol
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : tol
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	262708
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Level at 6000 ft MSL, tops at 3500. I had the autoplt on. There were reported problems with this autoplt by other pilots. After 10-15 mins I felt all was ok and chose to complete some paperwork for freight delivery (invoices). After what may have seemed a few minutes I looked up and the aircraft was in a slow descending turn to the left. Altitude was off by 400 ft and the heading was off by 180 degrees. Immediately regained control, nothing was said by me or a controller. Needless to say, the autoplt wasn't used by me any more this flight. In the future - all paperwork will wait. In the cabin, duties will be to fly, navigation and communicate only.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT HDG TRACK DEV IN A NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: LEVEL AT 6000 FT MSL, TOPS AT 3500. I HAD THE AUTOPLT ON. THERE WERE RPTED PROBS WITH THIS AUTOPLT BY OTHER PLTS. AFTER 10-15 MINS I FELT ALL WAS OK AND CHOSE TO COMPLETE SOME PAPERWORK FOR FREIGHT DELIVERY (INVOICES). AFTER WHAT MAY HAVE SEEMED A FEW MINUTES I LOOKED UP AND THE ACFT WAS IN A SLOW DSNDING TURN TO THE L. ALT WAS OFF BY 400 FT AND THE HDG WAS OFF BY 180 DEGS. IMMEDIATELY REGAINED CTL, NOTHING WAS SAID BY ME OR A CTLR. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE AUTOPLT WASN'T USED BY ME ANY MORE THIS FLT. IN THE FUTURE - ALL PAPERWORK WILL WAIT. IN THE CABIN, DUTIES WILL BE TO FLY, NAV AND COMMUNICATE ONLY.

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.