Altitude deviation. Altitude alert malfunction was a factor.

Attributes
ACN	294492
Time
Date	199501
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl airport : pdk
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl tower : cvg
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	294492
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing satellite airport IFR plan, initially assigned 3000 ft, heading 270 degrees. ATC gave a left turn to a southeast heading, climb to 5000 ft. Then a heading change and a climb to 6000 ft. Shortly, ATC asked altitude, replied leveling 7000 ft as I realized clearance was to 6000 ft. Controller said 'only cleared to 6000 ft' and I descended to 6000 ft. Flight conditions were clear on top of broken 3500 ft layer. Flight proceeded normally and no further comments about deviation. We subsequently climbed to FL210 as instructed by ATC. Altitude alerter did not alert at 6000 ft. Problems: aircraft had just completed maintenance 100 hour and had altitude alert repaired and it was faulting during first 10-15 mins of flight. 1 engine had itt indication problem which required continuous monitoring. Had a talkative passenger in copilot's seat and I had been accustomed to 2 crew aircraft operations. I had relatively little time in this aircraft. The problems and effects are obvious, as is the correction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV. ALT ALERT MALFUNCTION WAS A FACTOR.

Narrative: DEPARTING SATELLITE ARPT IFR PLAN, INITIALLY ASSIGNED 3000 FT, HDG 270 DEGS. ATC GAVE A L TURN TO A SE HDG, CLB TO 5000 FT. THEN A HDG CHANGE AND A CLB TO 6000 FT. SHORTLY, ATC ASKED ALT, REPLIED LEVELING 7000 FT AS I REALIZED CLRNC WAS TO 6000 FT. CTLR SAID 'ONLY CLRED TO 6000 FT' AND I DSNDED TO 6000 FT. FLT CONDITIONS WERE CLR ON TOP OF BROKEN 3500 FT LAYER. FLT PROCEEDED NORMALLY AND NO FURTHER COMMENTS ABOUT DEV. WE SUBSEQUENTLY CLBED TO FL210 AS INSTRUCTED BY ATC. ALT ALERTER DID NOT ALERT AT 6000 FT. PROBS: ACFT HAD JUST COMPLETED MAINT 100 HR AND HAD ALT ALERT REPAIRED AND IT WAS FAULTING DURING FIRST 10-15 MINS OF FLT. 1 ENG HAD ITT INDICATION PROB WHICH REQUIRED CONTINUOUS MONITORING. HAD A TALKATIVE PAX IN COPLT'S SEAT AND I HAD BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO 2 CREW ACFT OPS. I HAD RELATIVELY LITTLE TIME IN THIS ACFT. THE PROBS AND EFFECTS ARE OBVIOUS, AS IS THE CORRECTION.

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.