EA32 crew had a TCASII RA in ZMP airspace.

Attributes
ACN	456476
Time
Date	199912
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19700 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc tower : hou.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	456476
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	456711
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne critical non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Miss Distance	vertical : 800
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier airlines flight abc dec/xa/99 from san to msp. During descent from FL210 to FL200, just prior to level off at FL200, we received a TCASII TA. I was the PNF so was reducing the range on the navigation display to identify the location of the traffic. At the same time, ATC gave a clearance to us of 30 degrees left turn. We were in altitude capture at the time. The first officer (PF) reached to change heading on the FCU to comply, and inadvertently turned the altitude select knob and selected FL197 in the FCU window. The aircraft reverted to vertical speed prior to leveloff (we were unaware of this). At FL200 we received an RA for the FL190 traffic, and at that time I realized that we were descending through FL200. At the same time, the first officer disconnected the autoplt to comply with the RA of 'monitor vertical speed.' the aircraft leveled at FL190 and we promptly returned to FL200 and reported the RA to ZMP. Supplemental information from acn 456711: while approaching onl VOR and descending to FL200, we received a heading assignment from center for traffic. I believe at that time I may have mistakenly turned or bumped the altitude selector knob which put the aircraft in vertical speed mode. We dipped below FL200 and received an RA of 'monitor vertical speed.' I disengaged the autoplt and leveled the aircraft at FL200.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EA32 CREW HAD A TCASII RA IN ZMP AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ACR AIRLINES FLT ABC DEC/XA/99 FROM SAN TO MSP. DURING DSCNT FROM FL210 TO FL200, JUST PRIOR TO LEVEL OFF AT FL200, WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA. I WAS THE PNF SO WAS REDUCING THE RANGE ON THE NAV DISPLAY TO IDENT THE LOCATION OF THE TFC. AT THE SAME TIME, ATC GAVE A CLRNC TO US OF 30 DEGS L TURN. WE WERE IN ALT CAPTURE AT THE TIME. THE FO (PF) REACHED TO CHANGE HDG ON THE FCU TO COMPLY, AND INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE ALT SELECT KNOB AND SELECTED FL197 IN THE FCU WINDOW. THE ACFT REVERTED TO VERT SPD PRIOR TO LEVELOFF (WE WERE UNAWARE OF THIS). AT FL200 WE RECEIVED AN RA FOR THE FL190 TFC, AND AT THAT TIME I REALIZED THAT WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH FL200. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FO DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT TO COMPLY WITH THE RA OF 'MONITOR VERT SPD.' THE ACFT LEVELED AT FL190 AND WE PROMPTLY RETURNED TO FL200 AND RPTED THE RA TO ZMP. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 456711: WHILE APCHING ONL VOR AND DSNDING TO FL200, WE RECEIVED A HDG ASSIGNMENT FROM CTR FOR TFC. I BELIEVE AT THAT TIME I MAY HAVE MISTAKENLY TURNED OR BUMPED THE ALT SELECTOR KNOB WHICH PUT THE ACFT IN VERT SPD MODE. WE DIPPED BELOW FL200 AND RECEIVED AN RA OF 'MONITOR VERT SPD.' I DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND LEVELED THE ACFT AT FL200.

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.