CRJ200 flight crew has an altitude deviation during the ewr departure.

Attributes
ACN	714008
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : ewr 7
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	714008
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 4600
ASRS Report	714009
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Our initial clearance from ewr was newark 7 departure off runway 22R; then as filed; except maintain 2500 ft; and expect higher in 10 minutes. Standard procedures were followed and the proper takeoff briefing was given by myself including the level off at 2500 ft. I made the decision that it would be easier to hand fly the departure. I tuned the localizer for runway 22L for DME information; and selected the course bug to 190 degrees to remind me of my first heading. Then; selected 220 degrees to the heading which was planned to remind me to turn at 2.3 DME. Standard procedures were followed on takeoff. I called for speed mode and heading mode on departure. I realized the flight director was giving me erroneous information and chose not to follow it. I turned to the heading of 190 degrees; which was set in the course bug. From then I followed the DME of the localizer for information on when to turn to 220 degrees. Primary focus was given to the heading and altitude not enough. While I was focused on DME and heading; the captain was trying to call departure. We both had our primary attention away from altitude which caused the deviation. Situational awareness in my opinion; could've been better by use of automation and autopilot rather than making the decision to hand fly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ200 FLT CREW HAS AN ALT DEV DURING THE EWR DEP.

Narrative: OUR INITIAL CLEARANCE FROM EWR WAS NEWARK 7 DEP OFF RWY 22R; THEN AS FILED; EXCEPT MAINTAIN 2500 FT; AND EXPECT HIGHER IN 10 MINUTES. STANDARD PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED AND THE PROPER TAKEOFF BRIEFING WAS GIVEN BY MYSELF INCLUDING THE LEVEL OFF AT 2500 FT. I MADE THE DECISION THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER TO HAND FLY THE DEP. I TUNED THE LOCALIZER FOR RWY 22L FOR DME INFORMATION; AND SELECTED THE COURSE BUG TO 190 DEGS TO REMIND ME OF MY FIRST HEADING. THEN; SELECTED 220 DEGS TO THE HEADING WHICH WAS PLANNED TO REMIND ME TO TURN AT 2.3 DME. STANDARD PROCS WERE FOLLOWED ON TKOF. I CALLED FOR SPEED MODE AND HEADING MODE ON DEP. I REALIZED THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR WAS GIVING ME ERRONEOUS INFORMATION AND CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW IT. I TURNED TO THE HEADING OF 190 DEGS; WHICH WAS SET IN THE COURSE BUG. FROM THEN I FOLLOWED THE DME OF THE LOCALIZER FOR INFORMATION ON WHEN TO TURN TO 220 DEGS. PRIMARY FOCUS WAS GIVEN TO THE HEADING AND ALTITUDE NOT ENOUGH. WHILE I WAS FOCUSED ON DME AND HEADING; THE CAPT WAS TRYING TO CALL DEP. WE BOTH HAD OUR PRIMARY ATTENTION AWAY FROM ALT WHICH CAUSED THE DEVIATION. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IN MY OPINION; COULD'VE BEEN BETTER BY USE OF AUTOMATION AND AUTOPILOT RATHER THAN MAKING THE DECISION TO HAND FLY.

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.