Instrument rated private pilot of an small transport twin descended from assigned altitude and wandered off the airway track resulting in ARTCC radar controller intervention to remind reporter of his error.

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Attributes
ACN	420640
Time
Date	199811
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fim
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10600 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v107
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2440 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	420640
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
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:

During takeoff and departure, left engine cylinder head temperature showed high readings and excess movement. While en route, an altimeter setting caused me to disengage the altitude hold mode to descend 150 ft to return to 11000 ft. A sudden fluctuation in the gauge distraction me, and the controller called 1 min later and alerted me to my descent to 10600 ft. Immediate correction was initiated. A few mins later, another call from center alerted me to an easterly deviation from the airway (4 dots on the HSI/CDI), caused by failing to observe the airway changeover point for VOR frequencys. I was rather distraction by the cylinder head temperature fluctuations, and had not done enough recent flying to be up to PAR. Greater attention to all details of flight, and avoidance of excessive focus on one reading or instrument is needed, plus more time for currency proficiency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INST RATED PVT PLT OF AN SMT TWIN DSNDED FROM ASSIGNED ALT AND WANDERED OFF THE AIRWAY TRACK RESULTING IN ARTCC RADAR CTLR INTERVENTION TO REMIND RPTR OF HIS ERROR.

Narrative: DURING TKOF AND DEP, L ENG CYLINDER HEAD TEMP SHOWED HIGH READINGS AND EXCESS MOVEMENT. WHILE ENRTE, AN ALTIMETER SETTING CAUSED ME TO DISENGAGE THE ALT HOLD MODE TO DSND 150 FT TO RETURN TO 11000 FT. A SUDDEN FLUCTUATION IN THE GAUGE DISTR ME, AND THE CTLR CALLED 1 MIN LATER AND ALERTED ME TO MY DSCNT TO 10600 FT. IMMEDIATE CORRECTION WAS INITIATED. A FEW MINS LATER, ANOTHER CALL FROM CTR ALERTED ME TO AN EASTERLY DEV FROM THE AIRWAY (4 DOTS ON THE HSI/CDI), CAUSED BY FAILING TO OBSERVE THE AIRWAY CHANGEOVER POINT FOR VOR FREQS. I WAS RATHER DISTR BY THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMP FLUCTUATIONS, AND HAD NOT DONE ENOUGH RECENT FLYING TO BE UP TO PAR. GREATER ATTN TO ALL DETAILS OF FLT, AND AVOIDANCE OF EXCESSIVE FOCUS ON ONE READING OR INST IS NEEDED, PLUS MORE TIME FOR CURRENCY PROFICIENCY.

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.