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Pilot of a piper aztec, PA23-250, undershot assigned cruising altitude due to believing that his autoplt was engaged when he activated the altitude hold button.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 464730 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200002 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | NH |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc tracon : mmpr.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | PA-23-250 Aztec |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : corporate |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2600 flight time type : 85 |
| ASRS Report | 464730 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was assigned 6000 ft by ZBW. I punched in altitude hold on my autoplt. My attention was diverted and I received a call from ZBW telling me I was 400 ft below assigned altitude. I immediately climbed and resumed level flight at 6000 ft MSL. Problem: I assumed the autoplt had engaged.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF A PIPER AZTEC, PA23-250, UNDERSHOT ASSIGNED CRUISING ALT DUE TO BELIEVING THAT HIS AUTOPLT WAS ENGAGED WHEN HE ACTIVATED THE ALT HOLD BUTTON.
Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED 6000 FT BY ZBW. I PUNCHED IN ALT HOLD ON MY AUTOPLT. MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED AND I RECEIVED A CALL FROM ZBW TELLING ME I WAS 400 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT. I IMMEDIATELY CLBED AND RESUMED LEVEL FLT AT 6000 FT MSL. PROB: I ASSUMED THE AUTOPLT HAD ENGAGED.
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.