757 flight crew distracted by status message on EICAS fails to reset altimeter to 29.92.

Attributes
ACN	310220
Time
Date	199507
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pdx
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 36600 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	310220
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	310223
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When passing 16000 ft MSL a status message (mechanical) appeared on B757 EICAS screen. While trouble-shooting the problem -- attention was diverted 29.92 was not set in altimeter until level off causing a level off slightly low. A cure could be a chime at 18000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 757 FLC DISTRACTED BY STATUS MESSAGE ON EICAS FAILS TO RESET ALTIMETER TO 29.92.

Narrative: WHEN PASSING 16000 FT MSL A STATUS MESSAGE (MECHANICAL) APPEARED ON B757 EICAS SCREEN. WHILE TROUBLE-SHOOTING THE PROB -- ATTN WAS DIVERTED 29.92 WAS NOT SET IN ALTIMETER UNTIL LEVEL OFF CAUSING A LEVEL OFF SLIGHTLY LOW. A CURE COULD BE A CHIME AT 18000 FT.

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.