Narrative:

The newark 4 departure for runway 4L is not particularly difficult, but it moves quickly and requires a good amount of attention. After lift off it calls for a right turn to a 060 degree heading, then at 4 DME a 130 degree left turn to a 290 degree heading, while leveling at 2500 ft. During this there are other normal duties including watching for traffic, switching to departure frequency, and scheduled flap retraction from a takeoff setting of 15 degree. At 1500 ft MSL with the captain flying, I called '1000 ft to go.' we were already at 5 degree flaps and as the captain started our left turn the TCASII reported an audible 'TA'. The scope showed a target in front of and below us. It must have been near the edge of the 'TA' sensitivity area of the TCASII because it sounded repeatedly. Although it never issued a 'RA' this constant distraction demanded our attention. While trying to make visual contact and retracting flaps, the captain and I noticed an altitude of 2800 ft. By the time we got into a descent we topped out at 2900 ft. We quickly returned to 2500. The TCASII stopped about the time we noticed the altitude. I think it's possible that the TCASII warnings may have urged a climb instinctively even though it never issued a 'RA.' then the distrs helped us miss our altitude. Corrective actions would be to reduce or delay some of the overlapping duties during this ewr 4 departure. Flap retraction seems to be the only flexible duty. Although delaying retraction will get you to 2500 ft sooner, there will be one less duty for both left and right seats. TCASII warnings however distracting have to be observed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OVERSHOT A SID ALT DUE TO DISTR OF TCASII TA.

Narrative: THE NEWARK 4 DEP FOR RWY 4L IS NOT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT, BUT IT MOVES QUICKLY AND REQUIRES A GOOD AMOUNT OF ATTN. AFTER LIFT OFF IT CALLS FOR A R TURN TO A 060 DEG HDG, THEN AT 4 DME A 130 DEG L TURN TO A 290 DEG HDG, WHILE LEVELING AT 2500 FT. DURING THIS THERE ARE OTHER NORMAL DUTIES INCLUDING WATCHING FOR TFC, SWITCHING TO DEP FREQ, AND SCHEDULED FLAP RETRACTION FROM A TKOF SETTING OF 15 DEG. AT 1500 FT MSL WITH THE CAPT FLYING, I CALLED '1000 FT TO GO.' WE WERE ALREADY AT 5 DEG FLAPS AND AS THE CAPT STARTED OUR L TURN THE TCASII RPTED AN AUDIBLE 'TA'. THE SCOPE SHOWED A TARGET IN FRONT OF AND BELOW US. IT MUST HAVE BEEN NEAR THE EDGE OF THE 'TA' SENSITIVITY AREA OF THE TCASII BECAUSE IT SOUNDED REPEATEDLY. ALTHOUGH IT NEVER ISSUED A 'RA' THIS CONSTANT DISTR DEMANDED OUR ATTN. WHILE TRYING TO MAKE VISUAL CONTACT AND RETRACTING FLAPS, THE CAPT AND I NOTICED AN ALT OF 2800 FT. BY THE TIME WE GOT INTO A DSCNT WE TOPPED OUT AT 2900 FT. WE QUICKLY RETURNED TO 2500. THE TCASII STOPPED ABOUT THE TIME WE NOTICED THE ALT. I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE TCASII WARNINGS MAY HAVE URGED A CLB INSTINCTIVELY EVEN THOUGH IT NEVER ISSUED A 'RA.' THEN THE DISTRS HELPED US MISS OUR ALT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WOULD BE TO REDUCE OR DELAY SOME OF THE OVERLAPPING DUTIES DURING THIS EWR 4 DEP. FLAP RETRACTION SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY FLEXIBLE DUTY. ALTHOUGH DELAYING RETRACTION WILL GET YOU TO 2500 FT SOONER, THERE WILL BE ONE LESS DUTY FOR BOTH L AND R SEATS. TCASII WARNINGS HOWEVER DISTRACTING HAVE TO BE OBSERVED.

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.