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An HS125 hawker 600 levels off 300 ft too low as the first officer, PF, uses his altimeter for reference in communication with ZAB, NM.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 450900 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199910 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zab.artcc |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 21700 msl bound upper : 22000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zab.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | HS 125 Series 1-600 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : corporate |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1100 |
| ASRS Report | 450900 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : corporate |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : mode c other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
The aircraft involved had been in maintenance the day before the flight in question for a pitot static blockage on the copilot's side instruments. The following morning, on oct/xa/99, we were flying from alb to aus. We leveled off at FL220 (directly into the sun) and noticed a disparity between the captain's and copilot's altimeters -- the copilot's being 400 ft higher. As we were discussing this, ATC queried our altitude. I responded that we were 150 ft low (reference the captain's altimeter). The controller then asked us to call his supervisor at our destination. The captain on the flight called and the controller indicated that we were 300 ft low. This could be possible in a transient condition as we were both distraction for a few seconds. Upon returning to alb, the aircraft was turned over to maintenance and it was discovered that the copilot's altimeter was left in standby causing it to indicate higher than the captain's altimeter.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN HS125 HAWKER 600 LEVELS OFF 300 FT TOO LOW AS THE FO, PF, USES HIS ALTIMETER FOR REF IN COM WITH ZAB, NM.
Narrative: THE ACFT INVOLVED HAD BEEN IN MAINT THE DAY BEFORE THE FLT IN QUESTION FOR A PITOT STATIC BLOCKAGE ON THE COPLT'S SIDE INSTS. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, ON OCT/XA/99, WE WERE FLYING FROM ALB TO AUS. WE LEVELED OFF AT FL220 (DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN) AND NOTICED A DISPARITY BTWN THE CAPT'S AND COPLT'S ALTIMETERS -- THE COPLT'S BEING 400 FT HIGHER. AS WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS, ATC QUERIED OUR ALT. I RESPONDED THAT WE WERE 150 FT LOW (REF THE CAPT'S ALTIMETER). THE CTLR THEN ASKED US TO CALL HIS SUPVR AT OUR DEST. THE CAPT ON THE FLT CALLED AND THE CTLR INDICATED THAT WE WERE 300 FT LOW. THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE IN A TRANSIENT CONDITION AS WE WERE BOTH DISTR FOR A FEW SECONDS. UPON RETURNING TO ALB, THE ACFT WAS TURNED OVER TO MAINT AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE COPLT'S ALTIMETER WAS LEFT IN STANDBY CAUSING IT TO INDICATE HIGHER THAN THE CAPT'S ALTIMETER.
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.