Altitude deviation, excursion from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	301043
Time
Date	199504
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lit
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hercules (C-130)
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4200
ASRS Report	301043
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During cruise at 9000 ft, the autoplt light illuminated. I disengaged the autoplt to retrim the aircraft, then reengaged all 3 autoplt axes. At the moment I reengaged the autoplt, I was distracted by a student navigator who asked me a question. I failed to engage the altitude hold after this distraction. The aircraft slowly ascended through 9300 ft, when I discovered the deviation. While trying to bring the aircraft back to 9000 ft the aircraft continued to 9500 ft. ATC called us about the deviation and we advised them we had already begun the correction back to 9000 ft. As usual, a distraction in the flight deck diverted the pilot's attention from the task at hand, flying the aircraft. Another element of crew coordination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV, EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT 9000 FT, THE AUTOPLT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT TO RETRIM THE ACFT, THEN REENGAGED ALL 3 AUTOPLT AXES. AT THE MOMENT I REENGAGED THE AUTOPLT, I WAS DISTRACTED BY A STUDENT NAVIGATOR WHO ASKED ME A QUESTION. I FAILED TO ENGAGE THE ALT HOLD AFTER THIS DISTR. THE ACFT SLOWLY ASCENDED THROUGH 9300 FT, WHEN I DISCOVERED THE DEV. WHILE TRYING TO BRING THE ACFT BACK TO 9000 FT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO 9500 FT. ATC CALLED US ABOUT THE DEV AND WE ADVISED THEM WE HAD ALREADY BEGUN THE CORRECTION BACK TO 9000 FT. AS USUAL, A DISTR IN THE FLT DECK DIVERTED THE PLT'S ATTN FROM THE TASK AT HAND, FLYING THE ACFT. ANOTHER ELEMENT OF CREW COORD.

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.