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Pilot examiner in flying a piper on multi-engine check ride descended below assigned altitude due to misunderstanding of clearance and examinee radio difficulty.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 437460 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199905 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : mgm.vortac |
| State Reference | AL |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : mgm.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | PA-34-200 Seneca I |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | instruction : instructor oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 17300 flight time type : 45 |
| ASRS Report | 437460 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to original clearance |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Conducting a multi-engine check ride with instrument privileges and had requested a local IFR clearance due to having to penetrate a cloud deck. I would have to be PIC for a short time since applicant wasn't rated for instruments in a multi-engine. We were cleared to 3000 ft MSL and later both the applicant and I thought we were further cleared to 2000 ft (radios were giving the applicant a problem). At 2600 ft, approach informed us only cleared to 3000 ft and to go back to 3000 ft. We promptly complied. I don't have a solution for the altitude bust since it was read back, but controller did not acknowledge -- or we didn't hear it. But this enforces again why the FAA discourages designated pilot examiners assuming PIC.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT EXAMINER IN FLYING A PIPER ON MULTI-ENG CHK RIDE DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT DUE TO MISUNDERSTANDING OF CLRNC AND EXAMINEE RADIO DIFFICULTY.
Narrative: CONDUCTING A MULTI-ENG CHK RIDE WITH INST PRIVILEGES AND HAD REQUESTED A LCL IFR CLRNC DUE TO HAVING TO PENETRATE A CLOUD DECK. I WOULD HAVE TO BE PIC FOR A SHORT TIME SINCE APPLICANT WASN'T RATED FOR INSTS IN A MULTI-ENG. WE WERE CLRED TO 3000 FT MSL AND LATER BOTH THE APPLICANT AND I THOUGHT WE WERE FURTHER CLRED TO 2000 FT (RADIOS WERE GIVING THE APPLICANT A PROB). AT 2600 FT, APCH INFORMED US ONLY CLRED TO 3000 FT AND TO GO BACK TO 3000 FT. WE PROMPTLY COMPLIED. I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THE ALT BUST SINCE IT WAS READ BACK, BUT CTLR DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE -- OR WE DIDN'T HEAR IT. BUT THIS ENFORCES AGAIN WHY THE FAA DISCOURAGES DESIGNATED PLT EXAMINERS ASSUMING PIC.
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.