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An atx PA31-350 ATP pilot descends below the MEA on airway A-4 when unable to get a new clearance from ATC through an understaffed FSS station near btt, ak.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 525251 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200109 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | AK |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 6900 msl bound upper : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zan.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 2730 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 525251 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Facility Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Facility |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On sat while flying on the amber airway between anatiuik pass and bettles, alaska, I opted to descend below the MEA of the airway within 25 miles of bettles. Anchorage center frequency for the area was inoperative at the time. As a result, all IFR aircraft in the area were forced to relay messages back and forth to center through flight service. I had been cleared for the approach about 60 miles out while still at 10000 ft. Since I was able to maintain VFR conditions down to about 5000 ft, I tried to call the nearest flight service to ask center to give me a VFR-on-top descent to 7000 ft. However, flight service was so busy with relaying messages, in addition to performing their normal duties that they did not hear my several requests. I was concerned about damaging ear drums of the passengers who had a cold if I descended too rapidly. I chose to maintain VFR and descend to the minimum safe altitude offered for the approach of 6900 ft within 25 miles until established on the approach. Since I maintained VFR until the approach, I felt the decision was safe. I also believe anchorage center would have granted the request if we had been able to communicate. The situation could have been avoided if flight service had been staffed with extra help to cover the additional work load during the day that the 124.6 anchorage center frequency was inoperative.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN ATX PA31-350 ATP PLT DESCENDS BELOW THE MEA ON AIRWAY A-4 WHEN UNABLE TO GET A NEW CLRNC FROM ATC THROUGH AN UNDERSTAFFED FSS STATION NEAR BTT, AK.
Narrative: ON SAT WHILE FLYING ON THE AMBER AIRWAY BETWEEN ANATIUIK PASS AND BETTLES, ALASKA, I OPTED TO DESCEND BELOW THE MEA OF THE AIRWAY WITHIN 25 MILES OF BETTLES. ANCHORAGE CENTER FREQUENCY FOR THE AREA WAS INOPERATIVE AT THE TIME. AS A RESULT, ALL IFR AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA WERE FORCED TO RELAY MESSAGES BACK AND FORTH TO CENTER THROUGH FLIGHT SERVICE. I HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR THE APPROACH ABOUT 60 MILES OUT WHILE STILL AT 10000 FT. SINCE I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS DOWN TO ABOUT 5000 FT, I TRIED TO CALL THE NEAREST FLIGHT SERVICE TO ASK CENTER TO GIVE ME A VFR-ON-TOP DESCENT TO 7000 FT. HOWEVER, FLIGHT SERVICE WAS SO BUSY WITH RELAYING MESSAGES, IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THEIR NORMAL DUTIES THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR MY SEVERAL REQUESTS. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DAMAGING EAR DRUMS OF THE PASSENGERS WHO HAD A COLD IF I DESCENDED TOO RAPIDLY. I CHOSE TO MAINTAIN VFR AND DESCEND TO THE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE OFFERED FOR THE APPROACH OF 6900 FT WITHIN 25 MILES UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE APPROACH. SINCE I MAINTAINED VFR UNTIL THE APPROACH, I FELT THE DECISION WAS SAFE. I ALSO BELIEVE ANCHORAGE CENTER WOULD HAVE GRANTED THE REQUEST IF WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF FLIGHT SERVICE HAD BEEN STAFFED WITH EXTRA HELP TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL WORK LOAD DURING THE DAY THAT THE 124.6 ANCHORAGE CENTER FREQUENCY WAS INOPERATIVE.
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.