PA27 pilot had altitude excursion in clt class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	498980
Time
Date	200101
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : clt.vortac
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4600 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt.tracon tower : cak.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Piper Twin Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	498980
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While switching left fuel selector from inboard to outboard, left engine quit. While determining cause, aircraft lost 900 ft. Controller asked if I was having a problem. I told him that the left engine quit and I was working on it. I returned the fuel selector to inboard and the left engine relit. I then climbed back to my chosen altitude of 5500 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA27 PLT HAD ALT EXCURSION IN CLT CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE SWITCHING L FUEL SELECTOR FROM INBOARD TO OUTBOARD, L ENG QUIT. WHILE DETERMINING CAUSE, ACFT LOST 900 FT. CTLR ASKED IF I WAS HAVING A PROB. I TOLD HIM THAT THE L ENG QUIT AND I WAS WORKING ON IT. I RETURNED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO INBOARD AND THE L ENG RELIT. I THEN CLBED BACK TO MY CHOSEN ALT OF 5500 FT.

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.