An air carrier flight crew flying MD80 fails to maintain altitude as assigned by ZKC ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	450570
Time
Date	199909
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zkc.artcc
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl single value : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc tower : abq.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : other published ifr departure
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	450570
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had a hydraulic system gauge fail, as well as the left xfer pump circuit breaker pop. Also, the aircraft had a vibration at the forward entry door lower panel -- all at the same time. The autoplt (left or #1) was engaged. We had advised center regarding the problems that we encountered. Without warning, the aircraft started climbing, autoplt still engaged. We disconnected the autoplt at FL222.5 -- approximately 250 ft above assigned altitude. I was busy looking for the circuit breakers to reset during the abnormal conditions. I could not think of anything else we could have done other than hand fly the airplane. We landed without incident. We also had to reduce our speed of 320 KTS to 270 KTS. The vibration quieted down at the slower speeds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC FLYING MD80 FAILS TO MAINTAIN ALT AS ASSIGNED BY ZKC ARTCC.

Narrative: WE HAD A HYD SYS GAUGE FAIL, AS WELL AS THE L XFER PUMP CIRCUIT BREAKER POP. ALSO, THE ACFT HAD A VIBRATION AT THE FORWARD ENTRY DOOR LOWER PANEL -- ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THE AUTOPLT (L OR #1) WAS ENGAGED. WE HAD ADVISED CTR REGARDING THE PROBS THAT WE ENCOUNTERED. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ACFT STARTED CLBING, AUTOPLT STILL ENGAGED. WE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AT FL222.5 -- APPROX 250 FT ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. I WAS BUSY LOOKING FOR THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS TO RESET DURING THE ABNORMAL CONDITIONS. I COULD NOT THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE WE COULD HAVE DONE OTHER THAN HAND FLY THE AIRPLANE. WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WE ALSO HAD TO REDUCE OUR SPD OF 320 KTS TO 270 KTS. THE VIBRATION QUIETED DOWN AT THE SLOWER SPDS.

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.