Distraction by non essential duties, air carrier crew deviates from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	449860
Time
Date	199909
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	449860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was giving operating experience to a new captain who has been on union leave and hasn't flown for 2 1/2 yrs. He was flying and I was on #2 radio trying to get the down time of our earlier flight for the records. During this time, the new captain had a problem with radio switchology. We both got distraction and went to FL294 before I caught the situation. We went back down to FL290. This was caused by inexperience, no technology/distrs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISTR BY NON ESSENTIAL DUTIES, ACR CREW DEVIATES FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS GIVING OPERATING EXPERIENCE TO A NEW CAPT WHO HAS BEEN ON UNION LEAVE AND HASN'T FLOWN FOR 2 1/2 YRS. HE WAS FLYING AND I WAS ON #2 RADIO TRYING TO GET THE DOWN TIME OF OUR EARLIER FLT FOR THE RECORDS. DURING THIS TIME, THE NEW CAPT HAD A PROB WITH RADIO SWITCHOLOGY. WE BOTH GOT DISTR AND WENT TO FL294 BEFORE I CAUGHT THE SIT. WE WENT BACK DOWN TO FL290. THIS WAS CAUSED BY INEXPERIENCE, NO TECHNOLOGY/DISTRS.

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.