PA28 pilot had altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	452064
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fay.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	452064
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude cabin event : passenger illness inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : regained aircraft control
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While relocating aircraft from ilm for hurricane, departed on an IFR flight plan. Onboard was 11 yr old daughter, riding in front seat. My intercom had failed just prior to flight so I was unable to communicate directly with her. On a flight plan from ilm to fay to rdu, I was approaching fay when she appeared to collapse into the controls. As I attempted to extricate her, it became apparent I would descend out of my 3000 ft assigned altitude. I called for a clearance to descend but was told to maintain 3000 ft. I told the controller 'unable.' I finally stopped descent at 2500 ft MSL. Controller initially thought I was not IFR rated. I later telephoned that the problem was medical due to passenger incapacitation. In future, passenger would do well to be in back seat and possibly, the intercom should be considered a go/no go item.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT HAD ALTDEV.

Narrative: WHILE RELOCATING ACFT FROM ILM FOR HURRICANE, DEPARTED ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. ONBOARD WAS 11 YR OLD DAUGHTER, RIDING IN FRONT SEAT. MY INTERCOM HAD FAILED JUST PRIOR TO FLT SO I WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH HER. ON A FLT PLAN FROM ILM TO FAY TO RDU, I WAS APCHING FAY WHEN SHE APPEARED TO COLLAPSE INTO THE CTLS. AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXTRICATE HER, IT BECAME APPARENT I WOULD DSND OUT OF MY 3000 FT ASSIGNED ALT. I CALLED FOR A CLRNC TO DSND BUT WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. I TOLD THE CTLR 'UNABLE.' I FINALLY STOPPED DSCNT AT 2500 FT MSL. CTLR INITIALLY THOUGHT I WAS NOT IFR RATED. I LATER TELEPHONED THAT THE PROB WAS MEDICAL DUE TO PAX INCAPACITATION. IN FUTURE, PAX WOULD DO WELL TO BE IN BACK SEAT AND POSSIBLY, THE INTERCOM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A GO/NO GO ITEM.

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.