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Pilot of a government T38 inadvertently descended during engine after burner tests causing ATC to intervene and remind him of his FL450 assigned altitude. The reporter corrected his altitude immediately.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 355611 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199612 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : efd |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 44600 msl bound upper : 45000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zhu |
| Operator | other |
| Make Model Name | Talon |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | other other : other pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 87 flight time total : 8015 flight time type : 3382 |
| ASRS Report | 355611 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While on a functional check flight, assigned to FL450, I was performing engine cycles on each engine (from afterburner to idle to afterburner). While accomplishing this task I inadvertently let the altitude deviate to FL446. Center asked what my altitude was and I replied FL446. Center then said maintain FL450. I acknowledged and promptly corrected the error.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF A GOV T38 INADVERTENTLY DSNDED DURING ENG AFTER BURNER TESTS CAUSING ATC TO INTERVENE AND REMIND HIM OF HIS FL450 ASSIGNED ALT. THE RPTR CORRECTED HIS ALT IMMEDIATELY.
Narrative: WHILE ON A FUNCTIONAL CHK FLT, ASSIGNED TO FL450, I WAS PERFORMING ENG CYCLES ON EACH ENG (FROM AFTERBURNER TO IDLE TO AFTERBURNER). WHILE ACCOMPLISHING THIS TASK I INADVERTENTLY LET THE ALT DEVIATE TO FL446. CTR ASKED WHAT MY ALT WAS AND I REPLIED FL446. CTR THEN SAID MAINTAIN FL450. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND PROMPTLY CORRECTED THE ERROR.
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.