Narrative:

Flight planned for FL310. Later, to climb to 35000. ATC cleared us to FL350. Set FL350 in arm window -- performance engaged. FL350 keep dropping out of arm. While climbing I consulted MEL for malfunction of performance, at FL345 aircraft began to rumble and burble, requested immediate descent to FL310 and began level off at FL345. Aircraft still in burble, so began a descent to FL310 at the same time ATC cleared us back to FL310. The temperature was IAS plus 16 gross weight of aircraft 136000 pounds. It was now obvious performance was telling us 350 was not habitable, but I misinterpreted it was a malfunction of performance, and allowed myself to be distracted with consulting MEL for a non existent problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG GETS INTO NEAR STALL BUFFET WHEN OPERATING IN HIGHER THAN PLANNED OUTSIDE AIR TEMPS.

Narrative: FLT PLANNED FOR FL310. LATER, TO CLB TO 35000. ATC CLRED US TO FL350. SET FL350 IN ARM WINDOW -- PERFORMANCE ENGAGED. FL350 KEEP DROPPING OUT OF ARM. WHILE CLBING I CONSULTED MEL FOR MALFUNCTION OF PERFORMANCE, AT FL345 ACFT BEGAN TO RUMBLE AND BURBLE, REQUESTED IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO FL310 AND BEGAN LEVEL OFF AT FL345. ACFT STILL IN BURBLE, SO BEGAN A DSCNT TO FL310 AT THE SAME TIME ATC CLRED US BACK TO FL310. THE TEMP WAS IAS PLUS 16 GROSS WT OF ACFT 136000 LBS. IT WAS NOW OBVIOUS PERFORMANCE WAS TELLING US 350 WAS NOT HABITABLE, BUT I MISINTERPRETED IT WAS A MALFUNCTION OF PERFORMANCE, AND ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE DISTRACTED WITH CONSULTING MEL FOR A NON EXISTENT PROB.

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.