Narrative:

Early morning departure from sjc on loupe 9 SID. Initial climb altitude was 5000 ft. Aircraft was a light B757 (172000 takeoff weight). Briefed use of LNAV and VNAV for departure. Takeoff was normal, and PF called for LNAV after gear up, then VNAV at 800 ft AGL. Initiated turn at approximately 2 DME off of sjc, since LNAV did not appear to be calling for a turn on the flight director. Turned right toward 120 degrees, climbing at 'clean' maneuvering speed and approximately 4000 FPM. PF questioned whether we needed to intercept the sjc (339 degree?) radial now or continue to the 120 degree heading. PNF (captain) called 'level at 5000 ft!' PF noted aircraft was climbing rapidly through approximately 5200 ft, then pushed the nose forward to return to 5000 ft. Maximum altitude reached was approximately 5300-5500 ft and 5000 ft was regained within 10-15 seconds. Human performance considerations included: inexperience on aircraft type (also less than 50 hours flying time in last yr). First flight out of sjc airport and first time flying this SID. Confusion about autoflt commands to the flight director while hand flying the departure. Confusion about the SID. PF had briefed a right turn to 120 degrees in LNAV, then intercepting the sjc radial, which was incorrect. PF noted PNF's VOR CDI ctring and asked if he should turn left now to intercept. At this time, aircraft was probably within 1000 ft of leveloff and still climbing rapidly while approaching 250 KIAS. Lessons learned: brief SID more thoroughly, especially complex sids. Will use another autoflt mode for guidance with low altitude leveloff (ie, flight level change and heading select). Don't get distraction from aviating by navigating. Supplemental information from acn 414938: in the future, I intend to fly the loupe departure entirely on heading until the sjc VOR.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CLBING B757 ON THE LOUPE 9 DEP FROM SJC OVERSHOT ITS ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT.

Narrative: EARLY MORNING DEP FROM SJC ON LOUPE 9 SID. INITIAL CLB ALT WAS 5000 FT. ACFT WAS A LIGHT B757 (172000 TKOF WT). BRIEFED USE OF LNAV AND VNAV FOR DEP. TKOF WAS NORMAL, AND PF CALLED FOR LNAV AFTER GEAR UP, THEN VNAV AT 800 FT AGL. INITIATED TURN AT APPROX 2 DME OFF OF SJC, SINCE LNAV DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CALLING FOR A TURN ON THE FLT DIRECTOR. TURNED R TOWARD 120 DEGS, CLBING AT 'CLEAN' MANEUVERING SPD AND APPROX 4000 FPM. PF QUESTIONED WHETHER WE NEEDED TO INTERCEPT THE SJC (339 DEG?) RADIAL NOW OR CONTINUE TO THE 120 DEG HDG. PNF (CAPT) CALLED 'LEVEL AT 5000 FT!' PF NOTED ACFT WAS CLBING RAPIDLY THROUGH APPROX 5200 FT, THEN PUSHED THE NOSE FORWARD TO RETURN TO 5000 FT. MAX ALT REACHED WAS APPROX 5300-5500 FT AND 5000 FT WAS REGAINED WITHIN 10-15 SECONDS. HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDED: INEXPERIENCE ON ACFT TYPE (ALSO LESS THAN 50 HRS FLYING TIME IN LAST YR). FIRST FLT OUT OF SJC ARPT AND FIRST TIME FLYING THIS SID. CONFUSION ABOUT AUTOFLT COMMANDS TO THE FLT DIRECTOR WHILE HAND FLYING THE DEP. CONFUSION ABOUT THE SID. PF HAD BRIEFED A R TURN TO 120 DEGS IN LNAV, THEN INTERCEPTING THE SJC RADIAL, WHICH WAS INCORRECT. PF NOTED PNF'S VOR CDI CTRING AND ASKED IF HE SHOULD TURN L NOW TO INTERCEPT. AT THIS TIME, ACFT WAS PROBABLY WITHIN 1000 FT OF LEVELOFF AND STILL CLBING RAPIDLY WHILE APCHING 250 KIAS. LESSONS LEARNED: BRIEF SID MORE THOROUGHLY, ESPECIALLY COMPLEX SIDS. WILL USE ANOTHER AUTOFLT MODE FOR GUIDANCE WITH LOW ALT LEVELOFF (IE, FLT LEVEL CHANGE AND HDG SELECT). DON'T GET DISTR FROM AVIATING BY NAVING. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 414938: IN THE FUTURE, I INTEND TO FLY THE LOUPE DEP ENTIRELY ON HDG UNTIL THE SJC VOR.

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.