Air carrier flight crew has altitude deviation during departure from pit.

Attributes
ACN	564962
Time
Date	200211
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit.tracon tower : msp.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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 : 220 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	564962
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Altitude deviation of +500 ft induced by ATC departure. During our takeoff phase, we had a problem with our transponder code. It was not registering to ATC. We were given runway heading to 4000 ft. While climb out out, completing after takeoff checklist, dealing with icing conditions by turning on deice system, ATC repeatedly demanded we rectify our transponder problem. As PNF, I was juggling with 3 things here. ATC's demands caused distraction from completing our task at hand, which was to complete takeoff profile clear of ice. The demands of ATC even brought the PF into the situation which caused him to fly through assigned altitude of 4000 ft. ATC said we were 4500 ft. Since ATC has cleared us to 4000 ft, I don't understand the panic of being radar idented before that. Once level or thereabouts, they can demand these things because at that point, the most important checklist is complete. Departure was on our case when we were only 1000 ft into the climb. Tower tells you to switch to departure almost right away. I guess when we check in with departure, they assume our takeoff checklist is complete. Sometimes they will ask if you are with them before you call them. Departure should wait for departing aircraft to call them first and should not hassle crews before leveling off at assigned altitudes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC HAS ALTDEV DURING DEP FROM PIT.

Narrative: ALTDEV OF +500 FT INDUCED BY ATC DEP. DURING OUR TKOF PHASE, WE HAD A PROB WITH OUR XPONDER CODE. IT WAS NOT REGISTERING TO ATC. WE WERE GIVEN RWY HDG TO 4000 FT. WHILE CLBOUT OUT, COMPLETING AFTER TKOF CHKLIST, DEALING WITH ICING CONDITIONS BY TURNING ON DEICE SYS, ATC REPEATEDLY DEMANDED WE RECTIFY OUR XPONDER PROB. AS PNF, I WAS JUGGLING WITH 3 THINGS HERE. ATC'S DEMANDS CAUSED DISTR FROM COMPLETING OUR TASK AT HAND, WHICH WAS TO COMPLETE TKOF PROFILE CLR OF ICE. THE DEMANDS OF ATC EVEN BROUGHT THE PF INTO THE SIT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO FLY THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT. ATC SAID WE WERE 4500 FT. SINCE ATC HAS CLRED US TO 4000 FT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PANIC OF BEING RADAR IDENTED BEFORE THAT. ONCE LEVEL OR THEREABOUTS, THEY CAN DEMAND THESE THINGS BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THE MOST IMPORTANT CHKLIST IS COMPLETE. DEP WAS ON OUR CASE WHEN WE WERE ONLY 1000 FT INTO THE CLB. TWR TELLS YOU TO SWITCH TO DEP ALMOST RIGHT AWAY. I GUESS WHEN WE CHK IN WITH DEP, THEY ASSUME OUR TKOF CHKLIST IS COMPLETE. SOMETIMES THEY WILL ASK IF YOU ARE WITH THEM BEFORE YOU CALL THEM. DEP SHOULD WAIT FOR DEPARTING ACFT TO CALL THEM FIRST AND SHOULD NOT HASSLE CREWS BEFORE LEVELING OFF AT ASSIGNED ALTS.

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.