Flight crew of air carrier aircraft experiences altitude excursion while entering a hold at ign.

Attributes
ACN	462580
Time
Date	200002
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc tower : sfb.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	462580
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC gave us a hold at ign with almost no notice. The first officer was hand flying the aircraft since we were dispatched without either autoplt. While I was entering the fix ign into FMC, the first officer started a right turn per ATC. He also climbed to FL286 (+600 ft). When we noticed, we immediately descended to FL280. Note: ign was not on flight plan route and hold not expected, plus no autoplt. No conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ACR ACFT EXPERIENCES ALT EXCURSION WHILE ENTERING A HOLD AT IGN.

Narrative: ATC GAVE US A HOLD AT IGN WITH ALMOST NO NOTICE. THE FO WAS HAND FLYING THE ACFT SINCE WE WERE DISPATCHED WITHOUT EITHER AUTOPLT. WHILE I WAS ENTERING THE FIX IGN INTO FMC, THE FO STARTED A R TURN PER ATC. HE ALSO CLBED TO FL286 (+600 FT). WHEN WE NOTICED, WE IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO FL280. NOTE: IGN WAS NOT ON FLT PLAN RTE AND HOLD NOT EXPECTED, PLUS NO AUTOPLT. NO CONFLICT.

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.