Reporter error admitted in altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	346752
Time
Date	199609
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phk
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	346752
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 239 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 239
ASRS Report	346750
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified 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:

While climbing to 16000 ft we received a #2 system hydraulic caution light. After some discussion with the controller about altitudes, we requested FL200 and were told to expect that altitude. We leveled off at 16000 ft and continued troubleshooting the malfunction indication. When we recalled our altitude clearance we incorrectly remembered being cleared to FL200 and began the climb again. The controller informed us almost immediately that he wanted us at 16000 ft. We descended back to 16000 ft and nothing more was mentioned (by the ATC controller). I believe preoccupation with the hydraulic system malfunction indication contributed to our miscom of altitude assignments. Supplemental information from acn 346750: this problem arose due to straying from assigned activities. The PNF should be investigating the caution light. The PF should be flying the airplane. By including the first officer (PF) in the caution light discussion, I inadvertently distracted him from his primary duty of flying the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR ERROR ADMITTED IN ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING TO 16000 FT WE RECEIVED A #2 SYS HYD CAUTION LIGHT. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE CTLR ABOUT ALTS, WE REQUESTED FL200 AND WERE TOLD TO EXPECT THAT ALT. WE LEVELED OFF AT 16000 FT AND CONTINUED TROUBLESHOOTING THE MALFUNCTION INDICATION. WHEN WE RECALLED OUR ALT CLRNC WE INCORRECTLY REMEMBERED BEING CLRED TO FL200 AND BEGAN THE CLB AGAIN. THE CTLR INFORMED US ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT HE WANTED US AT 16000 FT. WE DSNDED BACK TO 16000 FT AND NOTHING MORE WAS MENTIONED (BY THE ATC CTLR). I BELIEVE PREOCCUPATION WITH THE HYD SYS MALFUNCTION INDICATION CONTRIBUTED TO OUR MISCOM OF ALT ASSIGNMENTS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 346750: THIS PROB AROSE DUE TO STRAYING FROM ASSIGNED ACTIVITIES. THE PNF SHOULD BE INVESTIGATING THE CAUTION LIGHT. THE PF SHOULD BE FLYING THE AIRPLANE. BY INCLUDING THE FO (PF) IN THE CAUTION LIGHT DISCUSSION, I INADVERTENTLY DISTRACTED HIM FROM HIS PRIMARY DUTY OF FLYING THE ACFT.

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.