<< >> NASA ASRS Report 251710, September 1993

Medium large transport on climb out has generator problem with resulting electrical problems. Distraction creates altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	251710
Time
Date	199309
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	251710
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer was flying departure from hou airport, lost right generator and right alternating current bus during climb out at about 3400 ft MSL. We had been assigned 4000 ft on initial departure clearance. The altitude alert and first officer's (who was flying) flight instruments were inoperative due to the electrical problem. As we passed 4000 ft we requested, and were given, clearance to 5000 ft. After performing the abnormal procedures relating to the electrical problem we returned to land at hou. We believe that we were cleared to 15000 ft upon contact with departure control, but it is possible that we had not and that we momentarily missed the 4000 ft level off before being cleared to 5000 ft. The confusion arises from the distraction of analyzing the electrical problem. This brings us back to the adage: first fly the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG ON CLBOUT HAS GENERATOR PROB WITH RESULTING ELECTRICAL PROBS. DISTR CREATES ALTDEV.

Narrative: FO WAS FLYING DEP FROM HOU ARPT, LOST R GENERATOR AND R ALTERNATING CURRENT BUS DURING CLBOUT AT ABOUT 3400 FT MSL. WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED 4000 FT ON INITIAL DEP CLRNC. THE ALT ALERT AND FO'S (WHO WAS FLYING) FLT INSTS WERE INOP DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL PROB. AS WE PASSED 4000 FT WE REQUESTED, AND WERE GIVEN, CLRNC TO 5000 FT. AFTER PERFORMING THE ABNORMAL PROCS RELATING TO THE ELECTRICAL PROB WE RETURNED TO LAND AT HOU. WE BELIEVE THAT WE WERE CLRED TO 15000 FT UPON CONTACT WITH DEP CTL, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE HAD NOT AND THAT WE MOMENTARILY MISSED THE 4000 FT LEVEL OFF BEFORE BEING CLRED TO 5000 FT. THE CONFUSION ARISES FROM THE DISTR OF ANALYZING THE ELECTRICAL PROB. THIS BRINGS US BACK TO THE ADAGE: FIRST FLY THE ACFT.

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.