Narrative:

While on a check ride flight for my multi-engine instructor certificate, I needed to climb to an altitude of at least 6000 ft MSL to do some maneuvers for the pts. It was IMC from 1500-4800 ft AGL. I thought I would ask for a clearance and a block of airspace to do the maneuvers. I received a squawk and altitude/heading assignment up to 6000 ft MSL. At 5700 ft, I was on top of the clouds and received a clearance to do the maneuvers on the 030 degree F (15-20 DME) gep 117.30. I thought I was going to get a block of airspace between 2 radials. It was too small of a space and I went through the assigned space. I think I might have made more work for the controller and I was confused about what airspace I could use for maneuvers. Correction: I should have requested a block of space by altitude and radials, asked for a bigger space for maneuvers. On the way back to mgg, the controller assigned 2500 ft MSL and told me to advise when I had the airport in sight. I could see the airport, but it was really far away (10 mi or more). I started to descend down before telling the controller I had the field. I went below the assigned altitude because I could see the field. The controller called and asked what altitude I was at. So I climbed back up to 2500 ft. I canceled my IFR clearance and went in VFR at that time. Correction: I should have advised the controller that I had the field in sight before descent.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLT OF A LIGHT TWIN ENG ACFT FAILED TO STAY WITHIN THE IFR ASSIGNED AIRSPACE BLOCK DURING A CFI MULTI ENG FLT TEST, AND DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED DSCNT ALT WHILE GOING BACK TO HOME BASE.

Narrative: WHILE ON A CHK RIDE FLT FOR MY MULTI-ENG INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, I NEEDED TO CLB TO AN ALT OF AT LEAST 6000 FT MSL TO DO SOME MANEUVERS FOR THE PTS. IT WAS IMC FROM 1500-4800 FT AGL. I THOUGHT I WOULD ASK FOR A CLRNC AND A BLOCK OF AIRSPACE TO DO THE MANEUVERS. I RECEIVED A SQUAWK AND ALT/HDG ASSIGNMENT UP TO 6000 FT MSL. AT 5700 FT, I WAS ON TOP OF THE CLOUDS AND RECEIVED A CLRNC TO DO THE MANEUVERS ON THE 030 DEG F (15-20 DME) GEP 117.30. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET A BLOCK OF AIRSPACE BTWN 2 RADIALS. IT WAS TOO SMALL OF A SPACE AND I WENT THROUGH THE ASSIGNED SPACE. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE MADE MORE WORK FOR THE CTLR AND I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT AIRSPACE I COULD USE FOR MANEUVERS. CORRECTION: I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A BLOCK OF SPACE BY ALT AND RADIALS, ASKED FOR A BIGGER SPACE FOR MANEUVERS. ON THE WAY BACK TO MGG, THE CTLR ASSIGNED 2500 FT MSL AND TOLD ME TO ADVISE WHEN I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. I COULD SEE THE ARPT, BUT IT WAS REALLY FAR AWAY (10 MI OR MORE). I STARTED TO DSND DOWN BEFORE TELLING THE CTLR I HAD THE FIELD. I WENT BELOW THE ASSIGNED ALT BECAUSE I COULD SEE THE FIELD. THE CTLR CALLED AND ASKED WHAT ALT I WAS AT. SO I CLBED BACK UP TO 2500 FT. I CANCELED MY IFR CLRNC AND WENT IN VFR AT THAT TIME. CORRECTION: I SHOULD HAVE ADVISED THE CTLR THAT I HAD THE FIELD IN SIGHT BEFORE DSCNT.

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.