Altitude deviation over irk.

Attributes
ACN	465510
Time
Date	200003
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	465510
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	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 cruising at FL310 and aircraft slowly climbed (and undetected) to FL313 when awi alerted me to altitude deviation. Disconnected autoplt and returned aircraft to FL310. I then re-engaged autoplt and we continued to mci uneventfully. I'm not sure if the aircraft autoplt malfunctioned or not, though I suspect the edge of my commercial chart binder just caught the pitch wheel enough to command a pitch up altitude. I never place my binder or any other thing on the center pedestal, but was showing something in the binder to the first officer. Points out how vigilant we must remain at all times during flight to altitude discipline.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV OVER IRK.

Narrative: WE WERE CRUISING AT FL310 AND ACFT SLOWLY CLBED (AND UNDETECTED) TO FL313 WHEN AWI ALERTED ME TO ALTDEV. DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT AND RETURNED ACFT TO FL310. I THEN RE-ENGAGED AUTOPLT AND WE CONTINUED TO MCI UNEVENTFULLY. I'M NOT SURE IF THE ACFT AUTOPLT MALFUNCTIONED OR NOT, THOUGH I SUSPECT THE EDGE OF MY COMMERCIAL CHART BINDER JUST CAUGHT THE PITCH WHEEL ENOUGH TO COMMAND A PITCH UP ALT. I NEVER PLACE MY BINDER OR ANY OTHER THING ON THE CTR PEDESTAL, BUT WAS SHOWING SOMETHING IN THE BINDER TO THE FO. POINTS OUT HOW VIGILANT WE MUST REMAIN AT ALL TIMES DURING FLT TO ALT DISCIPLINE.

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.