Pilot of a casa HA20, experimental aircraft, became confused at cruise altitude due to a lack of oxygen and requested a lower altitude from ATC. After descending, reporter regained control of the aircraft and found that the oxygen tube was disconnected. He also lost 1 contact eye lens, which fell out of reach on the cockpit floor.

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Attributes
ACN	365350
Time
Date	199704
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hts
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17500 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid artcc : zlc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : instrument pilot : private pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 26 flight time total : 1681 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	365350
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While climbing from FL180 to FL270 my supply tube came off my oxygen mask. At FL200 I began to notice I did not feel well and I turned up the oxygen. At FL230 I still did not feel well, informed ATC, and requested lower. I then began the descent but then required assistance from the pilot in the back seat (tandem seating). At 17500 ft, I was able to resume full control coordination and fly. However, I also lost a contact lens out of my left eye. I was unable to retrieve it from the floor. It was also at that time I checked the supply tube and reconnected it. I immediately felt better. To correct the situation, I intend to add a 'check oxygen mask connections' to my post takeoff checklist. I also intend to put an extra pair of glasses in the cockpit of the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A CASA HA20, EXPERIMENTAL ACFT, BECAME CONFUSED AT CRUISE ALT DUE TO A LACK OF OXYGEN AND REQUESTED A LOWER ALT FROM ATC. AFTER DSNDING, RPTR REGAINED CTL OF THE ACFT AND FOUND THAT THE OXYGEN TUBE WAS DISCONNECTED. HE ALSO LOST 1 CONTACT EYE LENS, WHICH FELL OUT OF REACH ON THE COCKPIT FLOOR.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING FROM FL180 TO FL270 MY SUPPLY TUBE CAME OFF MY OXYGEN MASK. AT FL200 I BEGAN TO NOTICE I DID NOT FEEL WELL AND I TURNED UP THE OXYGEN. AT FL230 I STILL DID NOT FEEL WELL, INFORMED ATC, AND REQUESTED LOWER. I THEN BEGAN THE DSCNT BUT THEN REQUIRED ASSISTANCE FROM THE PLT IN THE BACK SEAT (TANDEM SEATING). AT 17500 FT, I WAS ABLE TO RESUME FULL CTL COORD AND FLY. HOWEVER, I ALSO LOST A CONTACT LENS OUT OF MY L EYE. I WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE IT FROM THE FLOOR. IT WAS ALSO AT THAT TIME I CHKED THE SUPPLY TUBE AND RECONNECTED IT. I IMMEDIATELY FELT BETTER. TO CORRECT THE SIT, I INTEND TO ADD A 'CHK OXYGEN MASK CONNECTIONS' TO MY POST TKOF CHKLIST. I ALSO INTEND TO PUT AN EXTRA PAIR OF GLASSES IN THE COCKPIT OF 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.