Captain of a cpr jet climbed above assigned altitude when distraction by an FMS problem.

Attributes
ACN	456040
Time
Date	199911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rvs.airport
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11275
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tul.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	456040
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After our departure from rvs, we encountered several heading and altitude changes which is nonstandard for that airport. We were assigned a southeast heading and an altitude of 11000 ft. Then moments later, instructed/cleared direct to an intersection. It was at that point the FMS lost its position. During the attempt to solve the FMS problem, I gained 275 ft (11275 ft). The deviation was approximately 25 seconds and I promptly leveled at 11000 ft. The controller did not mention the altitude deviation to me nor was there any other traffic in the area. The problem is that I had my head down trying to assist the other pilot. The autoplt should have been engaged but was not. Another factor is that we had a last min crew change and the feeling of 'let's hurry up' was in the air.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A CPR JET CLBED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT WHEN DISTR BY AN FMS PROB.

Narrative: AFTER OUR DEP FROM RVS, WE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL HDG AND ALT CHANGES WHICH IS NONSTANDARD FOR THAT ARPT. WE WERE ASSIGNED A SE HDG AND AN ALT OF 11000 FT. THEN MOMENTS LATER, INSTRUCTED/CLRED DIRECT TO AN INTXN. IT WAS AT THAT POINT THE FMS LOST ITS POS. DURING THE ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE FMS PROB, I GAINED 275 FT (11275 FT). THE DEV WAS APPROX 25 SECONDS AND I PROMPTLY LEVELED AT 11000 FT. THE CTLR DID NOT MENTION THE ALTDEV TO ME NOR WAS THERE ANY OTHER TFC IN THE AREA. THE PROB IS THAT I HAD MY HEAD DOWN TRYING TO ASSIST THE OTHER PLT. THE AUTOPLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENGAGED BUT WAS NOT. ANOTHER FACTOR IS THAT WE HAD A LAST MIN CREW CHANGE AND THE FEELING OF 'LET'S HURRY UP' WAS IN THE AIR.

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.