The pilot of a multiengine aircraft climbing to 15000 ft overshot his altitude by 500 ft after his left engine fuel ctrl failed and while he was getting the yaw under control.

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Attributes
ACN	783185
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mia.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 5200 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	783185
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On IFR flight plan was instructed to climb and maintain 15000 ft. Was just leveling at 15000 ft when left engine suddenly started surging +/-600 ft pounds of torque. Yawing very bad; instant chaos. In a few seconds; left engine put on manual control (computer disconnected) and everything back under control. In that short time; we got up to 15500 ft. Immediately descended to 15000 ft. Moral: try to avoid engine failure problems. Post mortem: it appears fuel control unit failed at critical moment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE PILOT OF A MULTIENGINE ACFT CLBING TO 15000 FT OVERSHOT HIS ALT BY 500 FT AFTER HIS LEFT ENG FUEL CTRL FAILED AND WHILE HE WAS GETTING THE YAW UNDER CONTROL.

Narrative: ON IFR FLT PLAN WAS INSTRUCTED TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 15000 FT. WAS JUST LEVELING AT 15000 FT WHEN L ENG SUDDENLY STARTED SURGING +/-600 FT LBS OF TORQUE. YAWING VERY BAD; INSTANT CHAOS. IN A FEW SECONDS; L ENG PUT ON MANUAL CTL (COMPUTER DISCONNECTED) AND EVERYTHING BACK UNDER CTL. IN THAT SHORT TIME; WE GOT UP TO 15500 FT. IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 15000 FT. MORAL: TRY TO AVOID ENG FAILURE PROBS. POST MORTEM: IT APPEARS FUEL CTL UNIT FAILED AT CRITICAL MOMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.