Atx small transport altitude deviation after lightning strike caused an engine flame-out.

Attributes
ACN	123465
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 9400 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	123465
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While climbing out of orl on the way to ft lauderdale, fl, we were deviating around WX. We were clear of the WX, even though still IMC. Climbing through FL230 the aircraft was struck by lightning. The lightning hit flamed out the right engine. While handling the problem we climbed through our assigned altitude of FL280. ATC called and advised us of the altitude difference. I feel that as captain I was trying to handle too much at one time. I either should have kept flying the plane or handled the engine problem and let the copilot take over the flying. At this point ATC started us down and we were able to relight the engine. We kept going and were able to finish the leg west/O any other problems. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: a compressor stall occurred with the lightning strike, and the aircraft was above the start envelope, so descent clearance was obtained to restart the engine. Post-flight inspection revealed no burn marks around the engine or any place on the aircraft. Aircraft has been running normally ever since the incident. Apparently airflow disruption in the area of the lightning caused the flame-out.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMT ALT DEVIATION AFTER LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSED AN ENGINE FLAME-OUT.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING OUT OF ORL ON THE WAY TO FT LAUDERDALE, FL, WE WERE DEVIATING AROUND WX. WE WERE CLR OF THE WX, EVEN THOUGH STILL IMC. CLBING THROUGH FL230 THE ACFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. THE LIGHTNING HIT FLAMED OUT THE RIGHT ENG. WHILE HANDLING THE PROB WE CLBED THROUGH OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF FL280. ATC CALLED AND ADVISED US OF THE ALT DIFFERENCE. I FEEL THAT AS CAPT I WAS TRYING TO HANDLE TOO MUCH AT ONE TIME. I EITHER SHOULD HAVE KEPT FLYING THE PLANE OR HANDLED THE ENG PROB AND LET THE COPLT TAKE OVER THE FLYING. AT THIS POINT ATC STARTED US DOWN AND WE WERE ABLE TO RELIGHT THE ENG. WE KEPT GOING AND WERE ABLE TO FINISH THE LEG W/O ANY OTHER PROBS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: A COMPRESSOR STALL OCCURRED WITH THE LIGHTNING STRIKE, AND THE ACFT WAS ABOVE THE START ENVELOPE, SO DSCNT CLRNC WAS OBTAINED TO RESTART THE ENG. POST-FLT INSPECTION REVEALED NO BURN MARKS AROUND THE ENGINE OR ANY PLACE ON THE ACFT. ACFT HAS BEEN RUNNING NORMALLY EVER SINCE THE INCIDENT. APPARENTLY AIRFLOW DISRUPTION IN THE AREA OF THE LIGHTNING CAUSED THE FLAME-OUT.

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.