Narrative:

We were cleared for takeoff, assigned heading 115 degrees and 4000 ft. After takeoff the captain sets excessively high climb power. The aircraft is limited to 150 KTS with propeller RPM above 1450. Normal climb power is 1400 propeller RPM/3500 pounds torque. We are also restr to 1000 FPM in both climbs and dscnts. Captain had set propeller RPM at 1525 with torque at 3750 (maximum itt limiting). With such a high power setting, maintaining less than 150 KTS for propeller limits yields a rate of climb well in excess of 2000 FPM. During the following discussion concerning the wisdom of violating both operations manual and aircraft limitations we blew through our assigned altitude of 4000 ft. I noticed our altitude at 4400 ft. By the time I took corrective action we hit 4500. Return to assigned altitude was further delayed while propeller RPM was pulled below 1450 so we could descend at more than 150 KTS. In my opinion, the primary cause of this problem was allowing myself to become distracted by the captain's insistence on using nonstandard procedures that abuse both the aircraft and passenger.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER CAPT USES EXCESSIVE PWR SETTINGS IN CLB. FO NOT HAPPY AND DURING DISCUSSION OVERSHOOTS ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF, ASSIGNED HDG 115 DEGS AND 4000 FT. AFTER TKOF THE CAPT SETS EXCESSIVELY HIGH CLB PWR. THE ACFT IS LIMITED TO 150 KTS WITH PROP RPM ABOVE 1450. NORMAL CLB PWR IS 1400 PROP RPM/3500 POUNDS TORQUE. WE ARE ALSO RESTR TO 1000 FPM IN BOTH CLBS AND DSCNTS. CAPT HAD SET PROP RPM AT 1525 WITH TORQUE AT 3750 (MAX ITT LIMITING). WITH SUCH A HIGH PWR SETTING, MAINTAINING LESS THAN 150 KTS FOR PROP LIMITS YIELDS A RATE OF CLB WELL IN EXCESS OF 2000 FPM. DURING THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE WISDOM OF VIOLATING BOTH OPS MANUAL AND ACFT LIMITATIONS WE BLEW THROUGH OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT. I NOTICED OUR ALT AT 4400 FT. BY THE TIME I TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION WE HIT 4500. RETURN TO ASSIGNED ALT WAS FURTHER DELAYED WHILE PROP RPM WAS PULLED BELOW 1450 SO WE COULD DSND AT MORE THAN 150 KTS. IN MY OPINION, THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS ALLOWING MYSELF TO BECOME DISTRACTED BY THE CAPT'S INSISTENCE ON USING NONSTANDARD PROCS THAT ABUSE BOTH THE ACFT AND PAX.

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.