A commercial instrument rated pilot flying a C421 fails to maintain altitude as assigned by ZNY ARTC...

Attributes
ACN	454960
Time
Date	199911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : lacie
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v116.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3300 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	454960
Person 2
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist 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:

We were initially cleared to 14000 ft. However, due to traffic and the aircraft's inability to climb at a higher rate, we were told by ATC to level off at 11000 ft. I expected to shortly resume the climb to 14000 ft so I did not engage the altitude hold. After leveling off at 11000 ft, my attention was given for a moment to other navigation duties. When I glanced back at the altimeter, the aircraft was climbing through 11300 ft. I immediately pushed the nose down and began a descent. Departure control asked if I was 'level at 11000 ft.' I replied that I was returning. Again he asked the same question. By that time the aircraft was level at 11000 ft. To prevent such a problem from recurring, I would suggest that the pilot not allow other duties to distract from maintaining assigned altitudes. Also, properly trim the aircraft, maintain instrument scan and if an autoplt is available -- use it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL INST RATED PLT FLYING A C421 FAILS TO MAINTAIN ALT AS ASSIGNED BY ZNY ARTCC.

Narrative: WE WERE INITIALLY CLRED TO 14000 FT. HOWEVER, DUE TO TFC AND THE ACFT'S INABILITY TO CLB AT A HIGHER RATE, WE WERE TOLD BY ATC TO LEVEL OFF AT 11000 FT. I EXPECTED TO SHORTLY RESUME THE CLB TO 14000 FT SO I DID NOT ENGAGE THE ALT HOLD. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 11000 FT, MY ATTN WAS GIVEN FOR A MOMENT TO OTHER NAV DUTIES. WHEN I GLANCED BACK AT THE ALTIMETER, THE ACFT WAS CLBING THROUGH 11300 FT. I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED THE NOSE DOWN AND BEGAN A DSCNT. DEP CTL ASKED IF I WAS 'LEVEL AT 11000 FT.' I REPLIED THAT I WAS RETURNING. AGAIN HE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION. BY THAT TIME THE ACFT WAS LEVEL AT 11000 FT. TO PREVENT SUCH A PROB FROM RECURRING, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE PLT NOT ALLOW OTHER DUTIES TO DISTRACT FROM MAINTAINING ASSIGNED ALTS. ALSO, PROPERLY TRIM THE ACFT, MAINTAIN INST SCAN AND IF AN AUTOPLT IS AVAILABLE -- USE IT.

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.

A commercial instrument rated pilot flying a C421 fails to maintain altitude as assigned by ZNY ARTCC.