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C402 part 135 pilot has an altitude discrepancy with ATC; recycles transponder and resolves the situation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 704761 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200607 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zzz.artcc |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 20100 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc tower : iad.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 402/402C/B379 Businessliner/Utiliner |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 800 |
| ASRS Report | 704761 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Independent Detector | other controllerb |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
I was a part 135 PIC on an IFR flight plan. I was cleared by center to climb and maintain FL190. During the climb; I was advised by controller that 'altitude shows FL201; check altimeter setting.' crosschecked altimeter setting as being 29.92 inches hg. I then made a report to the controller that I was level at FL190. At this point the controller stated to the effect 'transponder lost; recycle transponder.' I put the transponder off for 1 min; on stand-by for 1 min; and then set to 'altitude.' the controller then stated 'transponder is up again; altitude indicates FL190.' in retrospect; I was suffering from a high level of stress due to the intensity of flying schedule with my employer. Also; when I checked my oxygen flow meter; I noticed it was low. I believe that I may have deviated from altitude due to a loss of concentration caused by the above; however; it may also have been a false indication by the transponder; as controller did receive a reading of FL190 after I recycled the transponder. I must pay higher attention to stress management and oxygen equipment operation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C402 PART 135 PLT HAS AN ALT DISCREPANCY WITH ATC; RECYCLES XPONDER AND RESOLVES THE SITUATION.
Narrative: I WAS A PART 135 PIC ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. I WAS CLRED BY CTR TO CLB AND MAINTAIN FL190. DURING THE CLB; I WAS ADVISED BY CTLR THAT 'ALT SHOWS FL201; CHK ALTIMETER SETTING.' XCHKED ALTIMETER SETTING AS BEING 29.92 INCHES HG. I THEN MADE A RPT TO THE CTLR THAT I WAS LEVEL AT FL190. AT THIS POINT THE CTLR STATED TO THE EFFECT 'XPONDER LOST; RECYCLE XPONDER.' I PUT THE XPONDER OFF FOR 1 MIN; ON STAND-BY FOR 1 MIN; AND THEN SET TO 'ALT.' THE CTLR THEN STATED 'XPONDER IS UP AGAIN; ALT INDICATES FL190.' IN RETROSPECT; I WAS SUFFERING FROM A HIGH LEVEL OF STRESS DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF FLYING SCHEDULE WITH MY EMPLOYER. ALSO; WHEN I CHKED MY OXYGEN FLOW METER; I NOTICED IT WAS LOW. I BELIEVE THAT I MAY HAVE DEVIATED FROM ALT DUE TO A LOSS OF CONCENTRATION CAUSED BY THE ABOVE; HOWEVER; IT MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN A FALSE INDICATION BY THE XPONDER; AS CTLR DID RECEIVE A READING OF FL190 AFTER I RECYCLED THE XPONDER. I MUST PAY HIGHER ATTN TO STRESS MGMNT AND OXYGEN EQUIP OP.
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.