<< >> NASA ASRS Report 326640, January 1996

Small aircraft pilot has altitude deviation while checking pilot's operating handbook for power settings. Autoplt disengaged due to turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	326640
Time
Date	199601
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7600 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3200
ASRS Report	326640
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cruising at 8000 ft autoplt engaged with altitude hold, pockets of moderate turbulence in area. I was looking in pilot's operating handbook for appropriate power setting for that altitude with very low outside air temperature, -5 degrees, and did not note the autoplt had disengaged and started a slow descent. Pittsburg approach controller questioned the altitude at 7600 ft. I confirmed the altitude and immediately initiated a climb back to 8000 ft. Caused by: turbulence and the autoplt's poor response to altdevs and distractions in managing other aircraft system. Better attention to basic scanning even with autoplt engaged.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAS ALTDEV WHILE CHKING PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR PWR SETTINGS. AUTOPLT DISENGAGED DUE TO TURB.

Narrative: CRUISING AT 8000 FT AUTOPLT ENGAGED WITH ALT HOLD, POCKETS OF MODERATE TURB IN AREA. I WAS LOOKING IN PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR APPROPRIATE PWR SETTING FOR THAT ALT WITH VERY LOW OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, -5 DEGS, AND DID NOT NOTE THE AUTOPLT HAD DISENGAGED AND STARTED A SLOW DSCNT. PITTSBURG APCH CTLR QUESTIONED THE ALT AT 7600 FT. I CONFIRMED THE ALT AND IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A CLB BACK TO 8000 FT. CAUSED BY: TURB AND THE AUTOPLT'S POOR RESPONSE TO ALTDEVS AND DISTRACTIONS IN MANAGING OTHER ACFT SYS. BETTER ATTN TO BASIC SCANNING EVEN WITH AUTOPLT ENGAGED.

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.