Pilot of a piper aztec PA23-250 failed to follow flight plan course and assigned altitude due to autoplt not holding heading and reporter inadvertently losing altitude while investigating the autoplt heading problem. Found loose fuel cap and severe fuel imbal during postflt inspection.

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Attributes
ACN	414481
Time
Date	199809
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dkk airport : eri
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : eri
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-23-250 Aztec
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : eri
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 6300 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	414481
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

IFR flight plan from louisville, ky (bowman field), to buffalo, new york international. With autoplt on altitude and heading, I noticed autoplt was not holding heading. I turned it off. At that time I discovered a very severe right roll of the aircraft. In the concern for reasons for aileron (left) input, neglected to maintain assigned altitude (7000 ft). At that, I requested descent to land at dunkirk (dkk) and was cleared to do so with assistance from erie, PA, approach control for the purpose of troubleshooting the control problem more safely. On the ground, a discovery of fuel cap loose and the left outboard near empty, and the right outboard near full -- a 90 pound difference. I had descended to 6000 ft without clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A PIPER AZTEC PA23-250 FAILED TO FOLLOW FLT PLAN COURSE AND ASSIGNED ALT DUE TO AUTOPLT NOT HOLDING HDG AND RPTR INADVERTENTLY LOSING ALT WHILE INVESTIGATING THE AUTOPLT HDG PROB. FOUND LOOSE FUEL CAP AND SEVERE FUEL IMBAL DURING POSTFLT INSPECTION.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN FROM LOUISVILLE, KY (BOWMAN FIELD), TO BUFFALO, NEW YORK INTL. WITH AUTOPLT ON ALT AND HDG, I NOTICED AUTOPLT WAS NOT HOLDING HDG. I TURNED IT OFF. AT THAT TIME I DISCOVERED A VERY SEVERE R ROLL OF THE ACFT. IN THE CONCERN FOR REASONS FOR AILERON (L) INPUT, NEGLECTED TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED ALT (7000 FT). AT THAT, I REQUESTED DSCNT TO LAND AT DUNKIRK (DKK) AND WAS CLRED TO DO SO WITH ASSISTANCE FROM ERIE, PA, APCH CTL FOR THE PURPOSE OF TROUBLESHOOTING THE CTL PROB MORE SAFELY. ON THE GND, A DISCOVERY OF FUEL CAP LOOSE AND THE L OUTBOARD NEAR EMPTY, AND THE R OUTBOARD NEAR FULL -- A 90 LB DIFFERENCE. I HAD DSNDED TO 6000 FT WITHOUT CLRNC.

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.