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Altitude deviation caused by misset altimeter. Distraction caused by ELT transmitter malfunction and passenger (mechanic) suggestions.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 399991 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199804 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : lan |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2600 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : lan |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1750 flight time type : 3 |
| ASRS Report | 399991 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | observation : passenger |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| 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 controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
Upon departure VFR from adrian, mi, I tuned toledo ATIS to obtain the altimeter setting. As I was entering the pressure setting into the altimeter, the ELT activated for no apparent reason. I discussed with the passenger (our FBO's mechanic) that we could land and investigate. He suggested that I just reset the ELT. After multiple attempts I was able to reset/rearm the ELT. I then contacted tol approach and received my clearance direct to jackson and altitude of 3000 ft. I climbed to 3000 ft and was advised by tol to contact lan approach. After contacting lan and reporting in at 3000 ft, lan then asked me to verify at 3000 ft, which I did. At this point lan approach advised me that the mode C readout indicated I was at 2600 ft MSL. At this point I realized that I never completed entering the current pressure setting into the altimeter due to being distraction by the ELT. I entered the correct setting supplied by lan approach, then climbed to 3000 ft MSL. I asked the controller what the mode C was now indicating and he stated 2800 ft and that 200 ft error was acceptable. I should have landed the plane while in VFR conditions and sorted out the problem with the ELT on the ground. This probably would have prevented me from becoming distraction later on.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ALTDEV CAUSED BY MISSET ALTIMETER. DISTR CAUSED BY ELT XMITTER MALFUNCTION AND PAX (MECH) SUGGESTIONS.
Narrative: UPON DEP VFR FROM ADRIAN, MI, I TUNED TOLEDO ATIS TO OBTAIN THE ALTIMETER SETTING. AS I WAS ENTERING THE PRESSURE SETTING INTO THE ALTIMETER, THE ELT ACTIVATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DISCUSSED WITH THE PAX (OUR FBO'S MECH) THAT WE COULD LAND AND INVESTIGATE. HE SUGGESTED THAT I JUST RESET THE ELT. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS I WAS ABLE TO RESET/REARM THE ELT. I THEN CONTACTED TOL APCH AND RECEIVED MY CLRNC DIRECT TO JACKSON AND ALT OF 3000 FT. I CLBED TO 3000 FT AND WAS ADVISED BY TOL TO CONTACT LAN APCH. AFTER CONTACTING LAN AND RPTING IN AT 3000 FT, LAN THEN ASKED ME TO VERIFY AT 3000 FT, WHICH I DID. AT THIS POINT LAN APCH ADVISED ME THAT THE MODE C READOUT INDICATED I WAS AT 2600 FT MSL. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THAT I NEVER COMPLETED ENTERING THE CURRENT PRESSURE SETTING INTO THE ALTIMETER DUE TO BEING DISTR BY THE ELT. I ENTERED THE CORRECT SETTING SUPPLIED BY LAN APCH, THEN CLBED TO 3000 FT MSL. I ASKED THE CTLR WHAT THE MODE C WAS NOW INDICATING AND HE STATED 2800 FT AND THAT 200 FT ERROR WAS ACCEPTABLE. I SHOULD HAVE LANDED THE PLANE WHILE IN VFR CONDITIONS AND SORTED OUT THE PROB WITH THE ELT ON THE GND. THIS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ME FROM BECOMING DISTR LATER ON.
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.