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Small aircraft pilot has altitude deviation while checking pilot's operating handbook for power settings. Autoplt disengaged due to turbulence.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 326640 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199601 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : pit |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 7600 msl bound upper : 8000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dawn |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : pit |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3200 |
| ASRS Report | 326640 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Cruising at 8000 ft autoplt engaged with altitude hold, pockets of moderate turbulence in area. I was looking in pilot's operating handbook for appropriate power setting for that altitude with very low outside air temperature, -5 degrees, and did not note the autoplt had disengaged and started a slow descent. Pittsburg approach controller questioned the altitude at 7600 ft. I confirmed the altitude and immediately initiated a climb back to 8000 ft. Caused by: turbulence and the autoplt's poor response to altdevs and distractions in managing other aircraft system. Better attention to basic scanning even with autoplt engaged.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMA PLT HAS ALTDEV WHILE CHKING PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR PWR SETTINGS. AUTOPLT DISENGAGED DUE TO TURB.
Narrative: CRUISING AT 8000 FT AUTOPLT ENGAGED WITH ALT HOLD, POCKETS OF MODERATE TURB IN AREA. I WAS LOOKING IN PLT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR APPROPRIATE PWR SETTING FOR THAT ALT WITH VERY LOW OUTSIDE AIR TEMP, -5 DEGS, AND DID NOT NOTE THE AUTOPLT HAD DISENGAGED AND STARTED A SLOW DSCNT. PITTSBURG APCH CTLR QUESTIONED THE ALT AT 7600 FT. I CONFIRMED THE ALT AND IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A CLB BACK TO 8000 FT. CAUSED BY: TURB AND THE AUTOPLT'S POOR RESPONSE TO ALTDEVS AND DISTRACTIONS IN MANAGING OTHER ACFT SYS. BETTER ATTN TO BASIC SCANNING EVEN WITH AUTOPLT ENGAGED.
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.