Departure controller questioned climb rate capability of small aircraft on IFR departure.

Attributes
ACN	119209
Time
Date	198908
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pao
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	119209
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The problem was entirely with one bay TRACON controller. Off pao on the standard initial routing 'turn right to 060 within 1 mile for radar vectors altamont, cleared to maintain 3000 initially.' after reaching on top, climbing about 600 RPM indicated, the controller began to complain about the rate of climb. Said there was terrain to be concerned about. Then said 'nxxxx are you aware of federal aviation regulations regarding minimum climb rate under IFR?' I realized that I was aware and would have advised had the indicated rate fallen below the required 500 FPM. Shortly after the controller ordered climb and maintain 8000', I acknowledged but got no response. Controller repeated climb instruction, I repeated acknowledgement and began climb. Controller called a third time, then said, nxxxx I see you have begun your climb, maintain 8000'. I then used the hand microphone to ask how I was heard. Controller answered loud and clear. In a minute I asked what the radar indicated climb rate had been. A new controller answered.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEP CTLR QUESTIONED CLIMB RATE CAPABILITY OF SMA ON IFR DEP.

Narrative: THE PROBLEM WAS ENTIRELY WITH ONE BAY TRACON CTLR. OFF PAO ON THE STANDARD INITIAL ROUTING 'TURN RIGHT TO 060 WITHIN 1 MILE FOR RADAR VECTORS ALTAMONT, CLRED TO MAINTAIN 3000 INITIALLY.' AFTER REACHING ON TOP, CLIMBING ABOUT 600 RPM INDICATED, THE CTLR BEGAN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RATE OF CLIMB. SAID THERE WAS TERRAIN TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. THEN SAID 'NXXXX ARE YOU AWARE OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGS REGARDING MINIMUM CLIMB RATE UNDER IFR?' I REALIZED THAT I WAS AWARE AND WOULD HAVE ADVISED HAD THE INDICATED RATE FALLEN BELOW THE REQUIRED 500 FPM. SHORTLY AFTER THE CTLR ORDERED CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 8000', I ACKNOWLEDGED BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. CTLR REPEATED CLIMB INSTRUCTION, I REPEATED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND BEGAN CLIMB. CTLR CALLED A THIRD TIME, THEN SAID, NXXXX I SEE YOU HAVE BEGUN YOUR CLIMB, MAINTAIN 8000'. I THEN USED THE HAND MIKE TO ASK HOW I WAS HEARD. CTLR ANSWERED LOUD AND CLEAR. IN A MINUTE I ASKED WHAT THE RADAR INDICATED CLIMB RATE HAD BEEN. A NEW CTLR ANSWERED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.