S76 pilot reports exceeding 1500 ft prior to 4.5 DME on the TEB5 departure.

Attributes
ACN	790202
Time
Date	200806
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	S-76/S-76 Mark II
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure sid : teb 5
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	790202
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 12500
ASRS Report	790756
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : automation overrode flight crew flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During our departure from teb airport; we were given the teb 5 departure; which states to level at 1500 ft until the 4.5 DME mark. We had our flight director engaged on the #1 side which showed proper indications of navigation and altitude capture. Unfortunately our autoplt controller still had the #2 pilot side selected. By the time we realized our mistake; the aircraft had flown through the 1500 ft air ft mark to about 1800 ft. We quickly recovered and leveled at 1500 ft. Even although this was pilot error; I feel it is an inherited flaw in the instruments. The flight director should not give you the proper readings without giving you some additional indication; such as a standby light; to alert you that you are not flying the active controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S76 PILOT REPORTS EXCEEDING 1500 FT PRIOR TO 4.5 DME ON THE TEB5 DEPARTURE.

Narrative: DURING OUR DEP FROM TEB ARPT; WE WERE GIVEN THE TEB 5 DEP; WHICH STATES TO LEVEL AT 1500 FT UNTIL THE 4.5 DME MARK. WE HAD OUR FLT DIRECTOR ENGAGED ON THE #1 SIDE WHICH SHOWED PROPER INDICATIONS OF NAV AND ALT CAPTURE. UNFORTUNATELY OUR AUTOPLT CTLR STILL HAD THE #2 PLT SIDE SELECTED. BY THE TIME WE REALIZED OUR MISTAKE; THE ACFT HAD FLOWN THROUGH THE 1500 FT AIR FT MARK TO ABOUT 1800 FT. WE QUICKLY RECOVERED AND LEVELED AT 1500 FT. EVEN ALTHOUGH THIS WAS PLT ERROR; I FEEL IT IS AN INHERITED FLAW IN THE INSTRUMENTS. THE FLT DIRECTOR SHOULD NOT GIVE YOU THE PROPER READINGS WITHOUT GIVING YOU SOME ADDITIONAL INDICATION; SUCH AS A STANDBY LIGHT; TO ALERT YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT FLYING THE ACTIVE CTLR.

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.