A B727-200 freighter performs a slow climb on autoplt to 400 ft above cruise altitude while the crew is busy looking over the landing data card.

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Attributes
ACN	428880
Time
Date	199902
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lvz.vortac
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 10600 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	428880
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 0 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 0
ASRS Report	428533
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : returned to original clearance other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : repair
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Aircraft was in level cruise at FL290. While the crew was reviewing the landing data card, the autoplt allowed the aircraft to climb to FL294.5. This happened in about 20-30 seconds. The autoplt was disengaged and the aircraft was returned to FL290. No mention was made by ATC and no conflicts happened that we know of. The autoplt was reconnected numerous times and each time it would not hold altitude. It would climb or descend at 200-400 FPM. This is exactly the reason the 'B' elevator servo of the autoplt was currently deferred. We were using the 'a' servo for this flight and it had functioned normally for the first 1 1/2 hours of the flight. The air data computer was repaired at the destination and the aircraft functioned normally. Supplemental information from acn 428533: recommendation: remain vigilant for collateral problems when aircraft has a malfunction in 1 of 2 similar system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727-200 FREIGHTER PERFORMS A SLOW CLB ON AUTOPLT TO 400 FT ABOVE CRUISE ALT WHILE THE CREW IS BUSY LOOKING OVER THE LNDG DATA CARD.

Narrative: ACFT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE AT FL290. WHILE THE CREW WAS REVIEWING THE LNDG DATA CARD, THE AUTOPLT ALLOWED THE ACFT TO CLB TO FL294.5. THIS HAPPENED IN ABOUT 20-30 SECONDS. THE AUTOPLT WAS DISENGAGED AND THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO FL290. NO MENTION WAS MADE BY ATC AND NO CONFLICTS HAPPENED THAT WE KNOW OF. THE AUTOPLT WAS RECONNECTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND EACH TIME IT WOULD NOT HOLD ALT. IT WOULD CLB OR DSND AT 200-400 FPM. THIS IS EXACTLY THE REASON THE 'B' ELEVATOR SERVO OF THE AUTOPLT WAS CURRENTLY DEFERRED. WE WERE USING THE 'A' SERVO FOR THIS FLT AND IT HAD FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR THE FIRST 1 1/2 HRS OF THE FLT. THE AIR DATA COMPUTER WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEST AND THE ACFT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 428533: RECOMMENDATION: REMAIN VIGILANT FOR COLLATERAL PROBS WHEN ACFT HAS A MALFUNCTION IN 1 OF 2 SIMILAR SYS.

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.