An small aircraft photo pilot flew well above his aircraft's service ceiling into the 'coffin corner...

Attributes
ACN	266696
Time
Date	199403
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sbv
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20700 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	266696
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Were flying a photo mission at FL210. Were experiencing light to moderate turbulence. Aircraft encountered downdraft. Lost 30 KTS airspeed, however aircraft soon recovered and only lost 100 ft of altitude. A short time later, aircraft encountered another downdraft. This time the aircraft lost 40 KTS, and I was unable to control altitude. I called center when I was 200 ft low and advised them that I could not maintain altitude. I then broke the 300 ft limit. I was indicating 80 KTS airspeed and in a 350 to 400 FPM descent. Center cleared me to FL190 and a heading of 030. I requested direct roa and was given direct and down to 14000 ft. When we landed, ZDC called and advised that they were investigating the altitude deviation. A few mins later (10-15), they called back and said no violation had occurred since they considered it an emergency. The FAA center man was good as far as attitude, and was helpful. The main reason for writing this is basically to cya. However, there are also some additional factors. The company I fly for is always pushing us to fly an aircraft that is underpwred at that altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PHOTO PLT FLEW WELL ABOVE HIS ACFT'S SVC CEILING INTO THE 'COFFIN CORNER.'

Narrative: WERE FLYING A PHOTO MISSION AT FL210. WERE EXPERIENCING LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB. ACFT ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFT. LOST 30 KTS AIRSPD, HOWEVER ACFT SOON RECOVERED AND ONLY LOST 100 FT OF ALT. A SHORT TIME LATER, ACFT ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER DOWNDRAFT. THIS TIME THE ACFT LOST 40 KTS, AND I WAS UNABLE TO CTL ALT. I CALLED CTR WHEN I WAS 200 FT LOW AND ADVISED THEM THAT I COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. I THEN BROKE THE 300 FT LIMIT. I WAS INDICATING 80 KTS AIRSPD AND IN A 350 TO 400 FPM DSCNT. CTR CLRED ME TO FL190 AND A HDG OF 030. I REQUESTED DIRECT ROA AND WAS GIVEN DIRECT AND DOWN TO 14000 FT. WHEN WE LANDED, ZDC CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE INVESTIGATING THE ALTDEV. A FEW MINS LATER (10-15), THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID NO VIOLATION HAD OCCURRED SINCE THEY CONSIDERED IT AN EMER. THE FAA CTR MAN WAS GOOD AS FAR AS ATTITUDE, AND WAS HELPFUL. THE MAIN REASON FOR WRITING THIS IS BASICALLY TO CYA. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL FACTORS. THE COMPANY I FLY FOR IS ALWAYS PUSHING US TO FLY AN ACFT THAT IS UNDERPWRED AT THAT ALT.

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.

An small aircraft photo pilot flew well above his aircraft's service ceiling into the 'coffin corner.'