Narrative:

On a multi-engine training flight, I was the instrument with a student in the final stages of his training. This flight was his first flight under the hood. The airport (sna) was VFR with a scattered/broken layer at 2500', visibility 7 mi, with tops at 3000'. Since the purpose of the flight was to perform VFR maneuvers at 4500', it required an IFR clearance to penetrate the possible clouds to VFR conditions. We received an IFR-to-VFR on-top clearance, which is a local procedure cleared to a NAVAID (sli). In the initial clearance the altitude assigned was 2000', expect 3000' in 10 mins. When reaching 1200' I simulated an engine failure by positioning the throttle to idle. The student recovered successfully while maintaining heading and position climb rate. With that procedure completed, I gave back the engine and we continued to climb. Since this was the student's first time under the hood, I was concentrating on the procedure and the obvious safety aspects. That took my attention away from the altitude restriction of 2000', with the result that we climbed to approximately 2500' when the controller cleared us to 3000'. We continued to climb when the controller requested our altitude. I reported 'crossing 2800'.' he reminded us that our altitude restriction had been 2000', and then completed his transmission with the frequency change. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. We cancelled IFR at 4000', climbed to 4500' and completed the lesson. Looking back, I believe the student and instrument attention required in that procedure with the low altitude restriction imposed set up the scenario that took place. There is doubt that if I were to do this again, I would be more sensitive to altitude. However, it certainly would make it easier if an unrestricted climb were possible. That's going to be added to my experience file.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CFI AND MULTI-ENGINE STUDENT PRACTICING ENGINE OUT PROCS FLY OVER THEIR ASSIGNED ALT BY 2500'.

Narrative: ON A MULTI-ENG TRNING FLT, I WAS THE INSTR WITH A STUDENT IN THE FINAL STAGES OF HIS TRNING. THIS FLT WAS HIS FIRST FLT UNDER THE HOOD. THE ARPT (SNA) WAS VFR WITH A SCATTERED/BROKEN LAYER AT 2500', VISIBILITY 7 MI, WITH TOPS AT 3000'. SINCE THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PERFORM VFR MANEUVERS AT 4500', IT REQUIRED AN IFR CLRNC TO PENETRATE THE POSSIBLE CLOUDS TO VFR CONDITIONS. WE RECEIVED AN IFR-TO-VFR ON-TOP CLRNC, WHICH IS A LCL PROC CLRED TO A NAVAID (SLI). IN THE INITIAL CLRNC THE ALT ASSIGNED WAS 2000', EXPECT 3000' IN 10 MINS. WHEN REACHING 1200' I SIMULATED AN ENG FAILURE BY POSITIONING THE THROTTLE TO IDLE. THE STUDENT RECOVERED SUCCESSFULLY WHILE MAINTAINING HDG AND POS CLB RATE. WITH THAT PROC COMPLETED, I GAVE BACK THE ENG AND WE CONTINUED TO CLB. SINCE THIS WAS THE STUDENT'S FIRST TIME UNDER THE HOOD, I WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE PROC AND THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ASPECTS. THAT TOOK MY ATTN AWAY FROM THE ALT RESTRICTION OF 2000', WITH THE RESULT THAT WE CLBED TO APPROX 2500' WHEN THE CTLR CLRED US TO 3000'. WE CONTINUED TO CLB WHEN THE CTLR REQUESTED OUR ALT. I RPTED 'XING 2800'.' HE REMINDED US THAT OUR ALT RESTRICTION HAD BEEN 2000', AND THEN COMPLETED HIS XMISSION WITH THE FREQ CHANGE. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. WE CANCELLED IFR AT 4000', CLBED TO 4500' AND COMPLETED THE LESSON. LOOKING BACK, I BELIEVE THE STUDENT AND INSTR ATTN REQUIRED IN THAT PROC WITH THE LOW ALT RESTRICTION IMPOSED SET UP THE SCENARIO THAT TOOK PLACE. THERE IS DOUBT THAT IF I WERE TO DO THIS AGAIN, I WOULD BE MORE SENSITIVE TO ALT. HOWEVER, IT CERTAINLY WOULD MAKE IT EASIER IF AN UNRESTRICTED CLB WERE POSSIBLE. THAT'S GOING TO BE ADDED TO MY EXPERIENCE FILE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.