A corporate jet's flight crew became distracted during the climb, and failed to complete the transit...

Attributes
ACN	299070
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 22550
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Challenger Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 7600
ASRS Report	299070
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4920 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	298838
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
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:

On a flight from pdk to hpn (whiteplains, ny) we were cleared to climb to FL200. During the climb out, we became preoccupied with ATC communications and the new FMS system, on board the aircraft. As a result of this, we both neglected to set the altimeter to 29.92. When we leveled at FL200, we told ATC we were level FL200, and at that moment, realized we had not changed the altimeter to 29.92 from about 30.47. We slowly set it to 29.92 and nothing was said. I feel the preoccupation with ATC and the new FMS were contributing factors, and the next time we should stick with basic flying and the task at hand. Supplemental information from acn 298838: challenger aircraft while climbing out of pdk, we the crew were distracted by our new FMS, and ATC advisories of a brasilia 1000 ft below us. In this confusing and busy atmosphere, we neglected to do our transition checklist, which calls for us to set our altimeters to 29.92 in through FL180, plus turn our landing and taxi lights off. The PNF and I then proceeded to slowly re-set our altimeters to 29.92, trying to keep FL200 at all times in our altimeters. Both heads in cockpit is no good. Basic airmanship is the key, here. If confused with FMS - go back to basics.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CORPORATE JET'S FLC BECAME DISTRACTED DURING THE CLB, AND FAILED TO COMPLETE THE TRANSITION CHKS, NAMELY, RESETTING THE ALTIMETERS. THE ERROR CAUSED A DEV OF 550 FT, WHICH WAS NOT VERBALLY NOTED BY ATC.

Narrative: ON A FLT FROM PDK TO HPN (WHITEPLAINS, NY) WE WERE CLRED TO CLB TO FL200. DURING THE CLBOUT, WE BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH ATC COMS AND THE NEW FMS SYS, ON BOARD THE ACFT. AS A RESULT OF THIS, WE BOTH NEGLECTED TO SET THE ALTIMETER TO 29.92. WHEN WE LEVELED AT FL200, WE TOLD ATC WE WERE LEVEL FL200, AND AT THAT MOMENT, REALIZED WE HAD NOT CHANGED THE ALTIMETER TO 29.92 FROM ABOUT 30.47. WE SLOWLY SET IT TO 29.92 AND NOTHING WAS SAID. I FEEL THE PREOCCUPATION WITH ATC AND THE NEW FMS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, AND THE NEXT TIME WE SHOULD STICK WITH BASIC FLYING AND THE TASK AT HAND. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 298838: CHALLENGER ACFT WHILE CLBING OUT OF PDK, WE THE CREW WERE DISTRACTED BY OUR NEW FMS, AND ATC ADVISORIES OF A BRASILIA 1000 FT BELOW US. IN THIS CONFUSING AND BUSY ATMOSPHERE, WE NEGLECTED TO DO OUR TRANSITION CHKLIST, WHICH CALLS FOR US TO SET OUR ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 IN THROUGH FL180, PLUS TURN OUR LNDG AND TAXI LIGHTS OFF. THE PNF AND I THEN PROCEEDED TO SLOWLY RE-SET OUR ALTIMETERS TO 29.92, TRYING TO KEEP FL200 AT ALL TIMES IN OUR ALTIMETERS. BOTH HEADS IN COCKPIT IS NO GOOD. BASIC AIRMANSHIP IS THE KEY, HERE. IF CONFUSED WITH FMS - GO BACK TO BASICS.

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.

A corporate jet's flight crew became distracted during the climb, and failed to complete the transition checks, namely, resetting the altimeters. The error caused a deviation of 550 ft, which was not verbally noted by ATC.