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C560XL in descent, altitude deviation altitude overshot. First officer was writing notes and PIC was looking out the window. Neither one heard the altitude alerter as they were wearing helmets with padded headsets.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 362052 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199703 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : sln |
| State Reference | KS |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 36100 msl bound upper : 37000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc |
| Operator | other |
| Make Model Name | Citation V |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 118 flight time total : 4993 flight time type : 280 |
| ASRS Report | 362052 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 100 |
| ASRS Report | 362236 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| 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 other |
Narrative:
Completed a series of tests in the block FL390-FL450 in test area X. Given a heading approximately 160 degrees and cleared to descend to FL370, which was set in the altitude select window. I was PNF and was 'cleaning' up my notes (making a few additions) when center advised us that they only had cleared us to FL370. I looked up and we were descending through FL361. The pilot promptly pitched up and leveled at FL370. What really caused the problem: we were wearing helmets, and therefore it was difficult to hear the altitude alerter. The company I fly for does not stress crew coordination, and callouts 1000 ft prior to altitude are not required. I was busy writing and not watching the altitude. The captain was looking out the window and not watching his instruments. I should more often look up while taking notes. The company/management needs to stress the importance of crew coordination and altitude callouts as the airlines do. The one pilot in a 2 crew cockpit mentality needs to be changed. Supplemental information from acn 362236: crew was wearing helmets due to hazardous nature of the test. Altitude alert not audible with helmets on. All aural alerts should pass through both speakers and intercom in new aircraft designs.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C560XL IN DSCNT, ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT. FO WAS WRITING NOTES AND PIC WAS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW. NEITHER ONE HEARD THE ALT ALERTER AS THEY WERE WEARING HELMETS WITH PADDED HEADSETS.
Narrative: COMPLETED A SERIES OF TESTS IN THE BLOCK FL390-FL450 IN TEST AREA X. GIVEN A HDG APPROX 160 DEGS AND CLRED TO DSND TO FL370, WHICH WAS SET IN THE ALT SELECT WINDOW. I WAS PNF AND WAS 'CLEANING' UP MY NOTES (MAKING A FEW ADDITIONS) WHEN CTR ADVISED US THAT THEY ONLY HAD CLRED US TO FL370. I LOOKED UP AND WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH FL361. THE PLT PROMPTLY PITCHED UP AND LEVELED AT FL370. WHAT REALLY CAUSED THE PROB: WE WERE WEARING HELMETS, AND THEREFORE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR THE ALT ALERTER. THE COMPANY I FLY FOR DOES NOT STRESS CREW COORD, AND CALLOUTS 1000 FT PRIOR TO ALT ARE NOT REQUIRED. I WAS BUSY WRITING AND NOT WATCHING THE ALT. THE CAPT WAS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND NOT WATCHING HIS INSTS. I SHOULD MORE OFTEN LOOK UP WHILE TAKING NOTES. THE COMPANY/MGMNT NEEDS TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF CREW COORD AND ALT CALLOUTS AS THE AIRLINES DO. THE ONE PLT IN A 2 CREW COCKPIT MENTALITY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 362236: CREW WAS WEARING HELMETS DUE TO HAZARDOUS NATURE OF THE TEST. ALT ALERT NOT AUDIBLE WITH HELMETS ON. ALL AURAL ALERTS SHOULD PASS THROUGH BOTH SPEAKERS AND INTERCOM IN NEW ACFT DESIGNS.
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.