PIC of air carrier large transport performs an altitude deviation altitude excursion in flight crew ...

Attributes
ACN	235589
Time
Date	199303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdf
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	235589
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Aircraft was at 4000 ft MSL, 190 degree heading, 210 KIAS, clean confign, downwind leg under radar vector for an ILS approach to runway 01 at sdf. The captain was flying and we were IMC in clouds. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, the stick shaker (stall warning) activated and remained so continuously. The captain advanced the thrust levers and the aircraft accelerated to 250 KIAS. At the same time, the aircraft began to climb. I reminded the captain that we were assigned 4000 ft and he was climbing. He directed me to advise approach control that we were at 5000 ft now and to request a delaying vector while we dealt with the stick shaker problem. I did so, and approach control 'rogered' the altitude and directed us to remain on a 190 degree heading. Although the continuous stick shaker was annoying, the flight engineer was able to stop it by placing the test switch to test and releasing it. We then notified approach control that we had the problem under control and were ready to land. Vectors were provided to an ILS approach and uneventful landing. A logbook entry was made regarding the stick shaker and the aircraft turned over to maintenance. I believe the distracting noise of the stall warning (a sound associated with imminent danger), and being IMC with the ground not visible caused a natural reaction by the captain to climb and increase speed in order to ensure no ground contact. ATC did not question these actions and provided excellent assistance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC OF ACR LGT PERFORMS AN ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION IN FLC RESPONSE TO STICK SHAKER ACTIVATION ON HIGH DOWNWIND VECTOR.

Narrative: ACFT WAS AT 4000 FT MSL, 190 DEG HDG, 210 KIAS, CLEAN CONFIGN, DOWNWIND LEG UNDER RADAR VECTOR FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 01 AT SDF. THE CAPT WAS FLYING AND WE WERE IMC IN CLOUDS. SUDDENLY, AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE STICK SHAKER (STALL WARNING) ACTIVATED AND REMAINED SO CONTINUOUSLY. THE CAPT ADVANCED THE THRUST LEVERS AND THE ACFT ACCELERATED TO 250 KIAS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ACFT BEGAN TO CLB. I REMINDED THE CAPT THAT WE WERE ASSIGNED 4000 FT AND HE WAS CLBING. HE DIRECTED ME TO ADVISE APCH CTL THAT WE WERE AT 5000 FT NOW AND TO REQUEST A DELAYING VECTOR WHILE WE DEALT WITH THE STICK SHAKER PROB. I DID SO, AND APCH CTL 'ROGERED' THE ALT AND DIRECTED US TO REMAIN ON A 190 DEG HDG. ALTHOUGH THE CONTINUOUS STICK SHAKER WAS ANNOYING, THE FE WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY PLACING THE TEST SWITCH TO TEST AND RELEASING IT. WE THEN NOTIFIED APCH CTL THAT WE HAD THE PROB UNDER CTL AND WERE READY TO LAND. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TO AN ILS APCH AND UNEVENTFUL LNDG. A LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS MADE REGARDING THE STICK SHAKER AND THE ACFT TURNED OVER TO MAINT. I BELIEVE THE DISTRACTING NOISE OF THE STALL WARNING (A SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH IMMINENT DANGER), AND BEING IMC WITH THE GND NOT VISIBLE CAUSED A NATURAL REACTION BY THE CAPT TO CLB AND INCREASE SPD IN ORDER TO ENSURE NO GND CONTACT. ATC DID NOT QUESTION THESE ACTIONS AND PROVIDED EXCELLENT ASSISTANCE.

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.

PIC of air carrier large transport performs an altitude deviation altitude excursion in flight crew response to stick shaker activation on high downwind vector.