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