Air carrier flight crew on map using QFE, has altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	202771
Time
Date	199202
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3400
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu tower : bfl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 3200
ASRS Report	202771
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	202773
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
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:

Our company uses QFE altimeter settings for approach and landing. On our missed approach the first officer climbed to the assigned altitude of 3000 ft, but was referring only to his own altimeter which was set at QFE (500 ft low). As he approached 3000 ft and appeared to be leveling I looked down to reset my radios for another approach. As I looked back up I heard the flight engineer say 'watch your altitude' and saw us climbing through 3200 ft. The aircraft topped at 3400 ft and the first officer immediately returned to 3000 ft. Cause: our altimeter procedures can be confusing in stressful situations. My changing of radios should have been delayed until the level off had been completed allowing me to properly backup my first officer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC ON MAP USING QFE, HAS ALTDEV.

Narrative: OUR COMPANY USES QFE ALTIMETER SETTINGS FOR APCH AND LNDG. ON OUR MISSED APCH THE FO CLBED TO THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000 FT, BUT WAS REFERRING ONLY TO HIS OWN ALTIMETER WHICH WAS SET AT QFE (500 FT LOW). AS HE APCHED 3000 FT AND APPEARED TO BE LEVELING I LOOKED DOWN TO RESET MY RADIOS FOR ANOTHER APCH. AS I LOOKED BACK UP I HEARD THE FE SAY 'WATCH YOUR ALT' AND SAW US CLBING THROUGH 3200 FT. THE ACFT TOPPED AT 3400 FT AND THE FO IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO 3000 FT. CAUSE: OUR ALTIMETER PROCS CAN BE CONFUSING IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. MY CHANGING OF RADIOS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED UNTIL THE LEVEL OFF HAD BEEN COMPLETED ALLOWING ME TO PROPERLY BACKUP MY FO.

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.