Narrative:

My passenger complained that she could no longer hear me on the intercom. I began troubleshooting her problem. While checking her headset cables; I found that her 'phone' plug was not inserted securely. I returned to my scan and saw that I was approximately 600 ft above my assigned altitude. I immediately began a descent at which point the controller came on frequency to give me the altimeter setting (his polite way of asking me to get down to where I belonged). In the future; I will try not to let unimportant concerns interfere with my operation of the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A IFR C210 PILOT DISTRACTED WHILE HELPING HIS PASSENGER WITH A COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE; DEVIATED FROM THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE BY 600 FT

Narrative: MY PAX COMPLAINED THAT SHE COULD NO LONGER HEAR ME ON THE INTERCOM. I BEGAN TROUBLESHOOTING HER PROB. WHILE CHKING HER HEADSET CABLES; I FOUND THAT HER 'PHONE' PLUG WAS NOT INSERTED SECURELY. I RETURNED TO MY SCAN AND SAW THAT I WAS APPROX 600 FT ABOVE MY ASSIGNED ALT. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSCNT AT WHICH POINT THE CTLR CAME ON FREQ TO GIVE ME THE ALTIMETER SETTING (HIS POLITE WAY OF ASKING ME TO GET DOWN TO WHERE I BELONGED). IN THE FUTURE; I WILL TRY NOT TO LET UNIMPORTANT CONCERNS INTERFERE WITH MY OP OF THE ACFT.

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.