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Private pilot of a mooney MO20 on an IFR flight plan encounters turbulence in a thunderstorm and is advised by ATC that he is 400 ft above assigned altitude wherein he observed his altimeter being only 200 ft high. The 200 ft high was again observed by a succeeding ARTCC radar controller. Reporter determined that not only had he climbed above assigned, but his altimeter needed repair.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 410100 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199808 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bed |
| State Reference | MA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3400 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 15 |
| ASRS Report | 410100 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather 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 |
Narrative:
Was climbing to assigned altitude (3000 ft) and flew into a buildup. Strong updraft brought the aircraft to 3200 ft. Controller asked me why I was at 3400 ft. I informed him about the updraft and that I indicated 3200 ft. Flight resumed normally. In ny airspace, approach radioed and said I was 200 ft high. At this time I realized I had a 200 ft altimeter error. Before departure I had set the pressure and recorded a 60 ft high error condition. After departure that error increased to 200 ft high. This explained the 3400 ft on the controller's scope to my 3200 ft indicated. I adjusted my altitude and completed the flight without incident. The altimeter is now in the shop.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PVT PLT OF A MOONEY MO20 ON AN IFR FLT PLAN ENCOUNTERS TURB IN A TSTM AND IS ADVISED BY ATC THAT HE IS 400 FT ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT WHEREIN HE OBSERVED HIS ALTIMETER BEING ONLY 200 FT HIGH. THE 200 FT HIGH WAS AGAIN OBSERVED BY A SUCCEEDING ARTCC RADAR CTLR. RPTR DETERMINED THAT NOT ONLY HAD HE CLBED ABOVE ASSIGNED, BUT HIS ALTIMETER NEEDED REPAIR.
Narrative: WAS CLBING TO ASSIGNED ALT (3000 FT) AND FLEW INTO A BUILDUP. STRONG UPDRAFT BROUGHT THE ACFT TO 3200 FT. CTLR ASKED ME WHY I WAS AT 3400 FT. I INFORMED HIM ABOUT THE UPDRAFT AND THAT I INDICATED 3200 FT. FLT RESUMED NORMALLY. IN NY AIRSPACE, APCH RADIOED AND SAID I WAS 200 FT HIGH. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED I HAD A 200 FT ALTIMETER ERROR. BEFORE DEP I HAD SET THE PRESSURE AND RECORDED A 60 FT HIGH ERROR CONDITION. AFTER DEP THAT ERROR INCREASED TO 200 FT HIGH. THIS EXPLAINED THE 3400 FT ON THE CTLR'S SCOPE TO MY 3200 FT INDICATED. I ADJUSTED MY ALT AND COMPLETED THE FLT WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ALTIMETER IS NOW IN THE SHOP.
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.