LR60 aircraft on climb to cruise went through assigned by 450 ft when captain reporter assumed the altitude capture would level aircraft. Reporter had inadvertently disengaged the autoplt when rolling the elevator trim switch.

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Attributes
ACN	394870
Time
Date	199802
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23450
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 60
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	394870
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified 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:

On climb to cruise altitude FL230 the climb rate was 3000 FPM. Autoplt selected and vertical mode selected. At FL220 I 'barreled' the trim switch to slow rate of climb to 1000 FPM. With only 30 hours in the new lear 60 I didn't realize the altitude capture mode would engage so early (1000 ft). Since it had engaged, when I toggled the trim to slow rate of climb I inadvertently kicked off the altitude capture mode. At 22500 ft we got a clearance direct to destination and I busied myself configuring the FMS for direct to destination flight. This distracted my attention and I busted the FL230 altitude clearance by 450 ft before I realized the error and got back to assigned altitude. The copilot caught the altitude bust. I just came from an aircraft that wouldn't climb at such a fast rate and wouldn't go to altitude capture mode before 500 ft prior. My lack of familiarity with this system, plus being distracted, plus having an over dependence or trust in the autoplt system led me to commit this error. In the future the leveloff must be the prime consideration and occupation until complete.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LR60 ACFT ON CLB TO CRUISE WENT THROUGH ASSIGNED BY 450 FT WHEN CAPT RPTR ASSUMED THE ALT CAPTURE WOULD LEVEL ACFT. RPTR HAD INADVERTENTLY DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT WHEN ROLLING THE ELEVATOR TRIM SWITCH.

Narrative: ON CLB TO CRUISE ALT FL230 THE CLB RATE WAS 3000 FPM. AUTOPLT SELECTED AND VERT MODE SELECTED. AT FL220 I 'BARRELED' THE TRIM SWITCH TO SLOW RATE OF CLB TO 1000 FPM. WITH ONLY 30 HRS IN THE NEW LEAR 60 I DIDN'T REALIZE THE ALT CAPTURE MODE WOULD ENGAGE SO EARLY (1000 FT). SINCE IT HAD ENGAGED, WHEN I TOGGLED THE TRIM TO SLOW RATE OF CLB I INADVERTENTLY KICKED OFF THE ALT CAPTURE MODE. AT 22500 FT WE GOT A CLRNC DIRECT TO DEST AND I BUSIED MYSELF CONFIGURING THE FMS FOR DIRECT TO DEST FLT. THIS DISTRACTED MY ATTN AND I BUSTED THE FL230 ALT CLRNC BY 450 FT BEFORE I REALIZED THE ERROR AND GOT BACK TO ASSIGNED ALT. THE COPLT CAUGHT THE ALT BUST. I JUST CAME FROM AN ACFT THAT WOULDN'T CLB AT SUCH A FAST RATE AND WOULDN'T GO TO ALT CAPTURE MODE BEFORE 500 FT PRIOR. MY LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS SYS, PLUS BEING DISTRACTED, PLUS HAVING AN OVER DEPENDENCE OR TRUST IN THE AUTOPLT SYS LED ME TO COMMIT THIS ERROR. IN THE FUTURE THE LEVELOFF MUST BE THE PRIME CONSIDERATION AND OCCUPATION UNTIL COMPLETE.

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.