Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	490360
Time
Date	200010
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mht.vor
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	490360
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : caution lights other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On climb out of mht with the first officer flying the aircraft, we were cleared to 10000 ft. At approximately 8500 ft we broke out of icing conditions at which time the first officer reached up to secure engine anti-ice. In doing so he mistakenly turned the 'B' system hydraulic pump switches off causing the autoplt to kick off. As captain, I was in the process of switching radio frequency to contact center. I noticed the autoplt disengage along with other associated caution lights related to the 'B' hydraulic system. I immediately noted the 'B' hydraulic system pump switched off. I restored the hydraulic system and noted the aircraft climbing through 10000 ft. I called altitude and the first officer leveled the aircraft at 10600 ft correcting back to 10000 ft. I checked in with center and was cleared to FL230. The controller did not comment, or seem to notice this deviation. Remainder of the flight was non-eventful. To prevent this from happening again, I will brief prior to flight that engine anti-ice on or off will be verbally called out thereby calling attention to the event. Also after this event the first officer and I had a long discussion on flying the aircraft first and letting the PNF troubleshoot the malfunction. I don't think this mistake will happen to either of us again. Off note: the location and switch size of both the 'B' hydraulic pump switches and engine anti-ice switches are in the same area on the overhead panel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT OF MHT WITH THE FO FLYING THE ACFT, WE WERE CLRED TO 10000 FT. AT APPROX 8500 FT WE BROKE OUT OF ICING CONDITIONS AT WHICH TIME THE FO REACHED UP TO SECURE ENG ANTI-ICE. IN DOING SO HE MISTAKENLY TURNED THE 'B' SYS HYD PUMP SWITCHES OFF CAUSING THE AUTOPLT TO KICK OFF. AS CAPT, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SWITCHING RADIO FREQ TO CONTACT CTR. I NOTICED THE AUTOPLT DISENGAGE ALONG WITH OTHER ASSOCIATED CAUTION LIGHTS RELATED TO THE 'B' HYD SYS. I IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE 'B' HYD SYS PUMP SWITCHED OFF. I RESTORED THE HYD SYS AND NOTED THE ACFT CLBING THROUGH 10000 FT. I CALLED ALT AND THE FO LEVELED THE ACFT AT 10600 FT CORRECTING BACK TO 10000 FT. I CHKED IN WITH CTR AND WAS CLRED TO FL230. THE CTLR DID NOT COMMENT, OR SEEM TO NOTICE THIS DEV. REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS NON-EVENTFUL. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, I WILL BRIEF PRIOR TO FLT THAT ENG ANTI-ICE ON OR OFF WILL BE VERBALLY CALLED OUT THEREBY CALLING ATTN TO THE EVENT. ALSO AFTER THIS EVENT THE FO AND I HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ON FLYING THE ACFT FIRST AND LETTING THE PNF TROUBLESHOOT THE MALFUNCTION. I DON'T THINK THIS MISTAKE WILL HAPPEN TO EITHER OF US AGAIN. OFF NOTE: THE LOCATION AND SWITCH SIZE OF BOTH THE 'B' HYD PUMP SWITCHES AND ENG ANTI-ICE SWITCHES ARE IN THE SAME AREA ON THE OVERHEAD PANEL.

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.