Flight crew of an executive jet light transport failed to maintain cruise altitude at FL510 due to inadequate aircraft performance at that altitude. Unable to hold altitude, and ATC unable to immediately provide clearance to lower, the flight crew was forced to declare an emergency during their descent.

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Attributes
ACN	365127
Time
Date	199703
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ssi
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 45000 msl bound upper : 45000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	general aviation : corporate
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 : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7700 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	365127
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were testing the new (used) plane at altitude. We climbed to FL510 the ceiling and could remain there at maximum climb power, but when we reduced power to cruise the aircraft would not maintain altitude and a return to climb power would not arrest descent. We immediately requested descent but were told to stand by which we could not do. It must be awfully congested at FL510, and we then descended because of the beginnings of a stall buffet. Center then scolded us and we declared an emergency and then were authority/authorized to descend.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN EXECUTIVE JET LTT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CRUISE ALT AT FL510 DUE TO INADEQUATE ACFT PERFORMANCE AT THAT ALT. UNABLE TO HOLD ALT, AND ATC UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY PROVIDE CLRNC TO LOWER, THE FLC WAS FORCED TO DECLARE AN EMER DURING THEIR DSCNT.

Narrative: WE WERE TESTING THE NEW (USED) PLANE AT ALT. WE CLBED TO FL510 THE CEILING AND COULD REMAIN THERE AT MAX CLB PWR, BUT WHEN WE REDUCED PWR TO CRUISE THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT AND A RETURN TO CLB PWR WOULD NOT ARREST DSCNT. WE IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED DSCNT BUT WERE TOLD TO STAND BY WHICH WE COULD NOT DO. IT MUST BE AWFULLY CONGESTED AT FL510, AND WE THEN DSNDED BECAUSE OF THE BEGINNINGS OF A STALL BUFFET. CTR THEN SCOLDED US AND WE DECLARED AN EMER AND THEN WERE AUTH TO DSND.

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.