<< >> NASA ASRS Report 324230, December 1995

First officer of an light transport undershot cruise assigned altitude because his altimeter control circuit breaker was 'tripped.'

Attributes
ACN	324230
Time
Date	199512
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7600 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pia
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zkc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	324230
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer leveled airplane off at 8000 ft (our final cruising altitude). I was PNF, duties include working radios. I advised him that I was leaving the frequency (active ZKC) to copy st louis ATIS information, make in-range call to company. In returning to frequency, I noticed he was 400 ft low on my altimeter. I advised of the deviation. His altimeter was showing 8000 ft. We corrected the problem by troubleshooting with static sources (normal and standby). We noticed that his altimeter's vibrator circuit breaker was popped out. We reset and this solved the problem. ATC did not mention any problem with the deviation. This was the second leg in this particular airplane. In the future, I am going to include a scan of circuit breakers and other switches in my 'through station' flow preparation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO OF AN LTT UNDERSHOT CRUISE ASSIGNED ALT BECAUSE HIS ALTIMETER CTL CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS 'TRIPPED.'

Narrative: FO LEVELED AIRPLANE OFF AT 8000 FT (OUR FINAL CRUISING ALT). I WAS PNF, DUTIES INCLUDE WORKING RADIOS. I ADVISED HIM THAT I WAS LEAVING THE FREQ (ACTIVE ZKC) TO COPY ST LOUIS ATIS INFO, MAKE IN-RANGE CALL TO COMPANY. IN RETURNING TO FREQ, I NOTICED HE WAS 400 FT LOW ON MY ALTIMETER. I ADVISED OF THE DEV. HIS ALTIMETER WAS SHOWING 8000 FT. WE CORRECTED THE PROB BY TROUBLESHOOTING WITH STATIC SOURCES (NORMAL AND STANDBY). WE NOTICED THAT HIS ALTIMETER'S VIBRATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS POPPED OUT. WE RESET AND THIS SOLVED THE PROB. ATC DID NOT MENTION ANY PROB WITH THE DEV. THIS WAS THE SECOND LEG IN THIS PARTICULAR AIRPLANE. IN THE FUTURE, I AM GOING TO INCLUDE A SCAN OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND OTHER SWITCHES IN MY 'THROUGH STATION' FLOW PREPARATION.

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.