Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	309950
Time
Date	199507
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hrv airport : msy
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msy
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	309950
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
ASRS Report	310475
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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:

Bumped autoplt off with trim wheel and failed to utilize basic instrument scan to monitor level off, distracted by something, reviewing approach plate. Altitude tone sounded 400 ft below assigned altitude of 3000 ft. I took immediate corrective action and climbed back to 3000 ft from 2600 ft. ATC advised to maintain 3000 ft at the same time I was climbing back to assigned altitude. Supplemental information from acn 310457: I have to bear responsibility in that I allowed myself to leave the 'loop.' some things we'll look at: non priority of non flying calls in approach terminal area. Possibility of resetting altitude alert chime to 150 ft or 200 ft to allow more time for reaction, including a challenge of 'altitude select armed' at 1000 ft call prior to level off. Altitude select either was not set or dropped off prior to level off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: BUMPED AUTOPLT OFF WITH TRIM WHEEL AND FAILED TO UTILIZE BASIC INST SCAN TO MONITOR LEVEL OFF, DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING, REVIEWING APCH PLATE. ALT TONE SOUNDED 400 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000 FT. I TOOK IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION AND CLBED BACK TO 3000 FT FROM 2600 FT. ATC ADVISED TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT AT THE SAME TIME I WAS CLBING BACK TO ASSIGNED ALT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 310457: I HAVE TO BEAR RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT I ALLOWED MYSELF TO LEAVE THE 'LOOP.' SOME THINGS WE'LL LOOK AT: NON PRIORITY OF NON FLYING CALLS IN APCH TERMINAL AREA. POSSIBILITY OF RESETTING ALT ALERT CHIME TO 150 FT OR 200 FT TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR REACTION, INCLUDING A CHALLENGE OF 'ALT SELECT ARMED' AT 1000 FT CALL PRIOR TO LEVEL OFF. ALT SELECT EITHER WAS NOT SET OR DROPPED OFF PRIOR TO LEVEL OFF.

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.