Cpr small aircraft altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	122404
Time
Date	198909
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mrj
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rfd
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	122404
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While cruising on an IFR flight plan at 6000' MSL, I encountered moderate turbulence and strong updrafts while IMC in cumulus buildups. I called rfd approach several times in order to inform the controller of the conditions and obtain relief in the form of a block altitude of 6000-7000', as it was not possible to maintain the assigned level. On at least 2 occasions, the response was 'standby.' when a response was ultimately elicited, and the controller was advised of conditions, he finally noticed the mode C readout increasing at 6500' and responded with an extended lecture on the regulatory requirements of maintaining assigned altitude. When reminded that he'd been called for several minutes, the answer was, 'I was busy.' since at the time the light aircraft was being buffeted by updrafts, that answer was not very helpful. I had my hands full maintaining altitude west/O overstressing the airframe. There needs to be more attention paid to controller attitude concerning attention to the problem in process and less to the controller's ego.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR SMA ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT IN TURBULENCE.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AT 6000' MSL, I ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURB AND STRONG UPDRAFTS WHILE IMC IN CUMULUS BUILDUPS. I CALLED RFD APCH SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO INFORM THE CTLR OF THE CONDITIONS AND OBTAIN RELIEF IN THE FORM OF A BLOCK ALT OF 6000-7000', AS IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN THE ASSIGNED LEVEL. ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS, THE RESPONSE WAS 'STANDBY.' WHEN A RESPONSE WAS ULTIMATELY ELICITED, AND THE CTLR WAS ADVISED OF CONDITIONS, HE FINALLY NOTICED THE MODE C READOUT INCREASING AT 6500' AND RESPONDED WITH AN EXTENDED LECTURE ON THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OF MAINTAINING ASSIGNED ALT. WHEN REMINDED THAT HE'D BEEN CALLED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE ANSWER WAS, 'I WAS BUSY.' SINCE AT THE TIME THE LIGHT ACFT WAS BEING BUFFETED BY UPDRAFTS, THAT ANSWER WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL. I HAD MY HANDS FULL MAINTAINING ALT W/O OVERSTRESSING THE AIRFRAME. THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ATTN PAID TO CTLR ATTITUDE CONCERNING ATTN TO THE PROB IN PROCESS AND LESS TO THE CTLR'S EGO.

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.