Narrative:

I was training someone at the lnr/dbq sectors combined. As traffic built up; I requested the sectors to be split. My trainee issued a climb to 17000 ft to the C414 with traffic at 17000 ft. An interim altitude of 16000 ft was entered in the data block; and a halo was put on the PC12 at 17000 ft. I did not catch the issuance of 17000 ft by my trainee. The distraction of splitting off the sector; and my note taking for the training report were a factor. To remedy this situation in the future; I will probably try to split the sectors sooner. I also need to pay closer attention to every clearance my trainee gives. I can't remember exactly what I was doing when he gave the clearance (note taking; requesting a sector split; etc); but either way; I did not catch the bad clearance. When the C414 went through 16000 ft; the conflict alert went off; I was already less than 5 mi. My trainee verified the assigned altitude; issued traffic; and descended 'immediately' to 16000 ft the C414 reported the PC12 in sight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAU INSTRUCTOR CTLR FAILS TO HEAR STUDENT'S INSTRUCTIONS THAT RESULT IN OPERROR AT 16000 FT DURING SECTOR DE-COMBINATION EFFORTS.

Narrative: I WAS TRAINING SOMEONE AT THE LNR/DBQ SECTORS COMBINED. AS TFC BUILT UP; I REQUESTED THE SECTORS TO BE SPLIT. MY TRAINEE ISSUED A CLB TO 17000 FT TO THE C414 WITH TFC AT 17000 FT. AN INTERIM ALT OF 16000 FT WAS ENTERED IN THE DATA BLOCK; AND A HALO WAS PUT ON THE PC12 AT 17000 FT. I DID NOT CATCH THE ISSUANCE OF 17000 FT BY MY TRAINEE. THE DISTR OF SPLITTING OFF THE SECTOR; AND MY NOTE TAKING FOR THE TRAINING RPT WERE A FACTOR. TO REMEDY THIS SIT IN THE FUTURE; I WILL PROBABLY TRY TO SPLIT THE SECTORS SOONER. I ALSO NEED TO PAY CLOSER ATTN TO EVERY CLRNC MY TRAINEE GIVES. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING WHEN HE GAVE THE CLRNC (NOTE TAKING; REQUESTING A SECTOR SPLIT; ETC); BUT EITHER WAY; I DID NOT CATCH THE BAD CLRNC. WHEN THE C414 WENT THROUGH 16000 FT; THE CONFLICT ALERT WENT OFF; I WAS ALREADY LESS THAN 5 MI. MY TRAINEE VERIFIED THE ASSIGNED ALT; ISSUED TFC; AND DSNDED 'IMMEDIATELY' TO 16000 FT THE C414 RPTED THE PC12 IN SIGHT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.