Altitude overshot while crew distracted discussing TCAS ii.

Attributes
ACN	170619
Time
Date	199102
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crl airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : gmu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : dtw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	170619
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descent into dtw. Captain and I both had not flown for a period of time. I had not flown since TCAS implementation. With descent clearance to 11000', captain and I began discussion of TCAS operation since there was some traffic, non conflict, showing. At approximately 10500' we noticed altitude deviation and immediately corrected to 11000'. There were no traffic conflicts known or reported. The biggest problem from my viewpoint is that my training in TCAS had been self-study at a computer terminal in late summer. While I felt the training itself was very good, it was 4 or 5 months ago with no follow-up, further use or recurrent of any sort. This flight was my first with actual TCAS operation. I think each carrier, since self-study programs such as this one seem to be today's method of training, should provide training carrels and programs/materials at each pilot domicile to permit self-study. 4-6 months between training and use/implementation is unacceptable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT OVERSHOT WHILE CREW DISTRACTED DISCUSSING TCAS II.

Narrative: DSNT INTO DTW. CAPT AND I BOTH HAD NOT FLOWN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. I HAD NOT FLOWN SINCE TCAS IMPLEMENTATION. WITH DSNT CLRNC TO 11000', CAPT AND I BEGAN DISCUSSION OF TCAS OPERATION SINCE THERE WAS SOME TFC, NON CONFLICT, SHOWING. AT APPROX 10500' WE NOTICED ALT DEVIATION AND IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED TO 11000'. THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS KNOWN OR RPTED. THE BIGGEST PROB FROM MY VIEWPOINT IS THAT MY TRNING IN TCAS HAD BEEN SELF-STUDY AT A COMPUTER TERMINAL IN LATE SUMMER. WHILE I FELT THE TRNING ITSELF WAS VERY GOOD, IT WAS 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO WITH NO FOLLOW-UP, FURTHER USE OR RECURRENT OF ANY SORT. THIS FLT WAS MY FIRST WITH ACTUAL TCAS OPERATION. I THINK EACH CARRIER, SINCE SELF-STUDY PROGRAMS SUCH AS THIS ONE SEEM TO BE TODAY'S METHOD OF TRNING, SHOULD PROVIDE TRNING CARRELS AND PROGRAMS/MATERIALS AT EACH PLT DOMICILE TO PERMIT SELF-STUDY. 4-6 MONTHS BTWN TRNING AND USE/IMPLEMENTATION IS UNACCEPTABLE.

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.