BE36 pilot had altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	420420
Time
Date	199811
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 4800 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	420420
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The artificial horizon never caged on startup and attempts to get it caged diverted attention from flying the aircraft. Altitude crept up to 9400 ft before ATC brought the incursion to my attention. Simple lesson: the captain's responsibility is to fly the aircraft. No event should divert his/her attention from this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE36 PLT HAD ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: THE ARTIFICIAL HORIZON NEVER CAGED ON STARTUP AND ATTEMPTS TO GET IT CAGED DIVERTED ATTN FROM FLYING THE ACFT. ALT CREPT UP TO 9400 FT BEFORE ATC BROUGHT THE INCURSION TO MY ATTN. SIMPLE LESSON: THE CAPT'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO FLY THE ACFT. NO EVENT SHOULD DIVERT HIS/HER ATTN FROM THIS.

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.