Flight crew of large transport fails to reset altimeter passing FL180. Levels off 280 ft low.

Attributes
ACN	335980
Time
Date	199605
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zmp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24700 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : dal
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	335980
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Failed to reset altimeter at 18000 ft. Leveled off at FL250 and noticed altimeters set at 30.25 inches. Reset to 29.92 inches and immediately initiated a vertical speed climb to FL250. Aircraft showed 280 ft low. (When the altimeter was reset to 29.92). Contributing factors: company sent ACARS message wanting to know about takeoff delay. First officer was typing a reply as we passed through FL180. I, (captain) the PF was handling the radio as well, (ATC). I don't believe the first officer (who is an excellent flying partner) used the company procedure of keeping the checklist on the pedestal until the 'climb check complete' point was reached, and then stowing the checklist. I believe the checklist was always kept on a pull-down holder. This company procedure may have helped with awareness that the final item of resetting the altimeter at transition altitude had not been completed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LGT FAILS TO RESET ALTIMETER PASSING FL180. LEVELS OFF 280 FT LOW.

Narrative: FAILED TO RESET ALTIMETER AT 18000 FT. LEVELED OFF AT FL250 AND NOTICED ALTIMETERS SET AT 30.25 INCHES. RESET TO 29.92 INCHES AND IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A VERT SPD CLB TO FL250. ACFT SHOWED 280 FT LOW. (WHEN THE ALTIMETER WAS RESET TO 29.92). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: COMPANY SENT ACARS MESSAGE WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT TKOF DELAY. FO WAS TYPING A REPLY AS WE PASSED THROUGH FL180. I, (CAPT) THE PF WAS HANDLING THE RADIO AS WELL, (ATC). I DON'T BELIEVE THE FO (WHO IS AN EXCELLENT FLYING PARTNER) USED THE COMPANY PROC OF KEEPING THE CHKLIST ON THE PEDESTAL UNTIL THE 'CLB CHK COMPLETE' POINT WAS REACHED, AND THEN STOWING THE CHKLIST. I BELIEVE THE CHKLIST WAS ALWAYS KEPT ON A PULL-DOWN HOLDER. THIS COMPANY PROC MAY HAVE HELPED WITH AWARENESS THAT THE FINAL ITEM OF RESETTING THE ALTIMETER AT TRANSITION ALT HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED.

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.