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Carj at FL410 with ZAB is unable to maintain altitude but ATC reports conflicting traffic below, pilot is forced to descend.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 626064 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200406 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : lvs.vortac |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | msl single value : 41000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet 700 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv.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 : commercial pilot : atp pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 4700 |
| ASRS Report | 626064 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
After leveling off at FL410, clearing some thunderstorms, a change in outside air temperature along with mountain waves in the area, my aircraft was no longer able to hold altitude. I told (I believe, it was ZDV) that I needed a lower altitude. They said it would be 2 mins before I could get lower. I asked again for a lower altitude and the controller said it would be 6-8 more mins. I told the controller that I was descending, unable to hold altitude. He said I had traffic below me at FL390. I told him that I was being influenced by the WX and could not hold altitude and recommended that we both turn for clearance. He approved a lower altitude and some further headings at my request for WX avoidance.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CARJ AT FL410 WITH ZAB IS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT BUT ATC RPTS CONFLICTING TFC BELOW, PLT IS FORCED TO DSND.
Narrative: AFTER LEVELING OFF AT FL410, CLRING SOME TSTMS, A CHANGE IN OUTSIDE AIR TEMP ALONG WITH MOUNTAIN WAVES IN THE AREA, MY ACFT WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO HOLD ALT. I TOLD (I BELIEVE, IT WAS ZDV) THAT I NEEDED A LOWER ALT. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 2 MINS BEFORE I COULD GET LOWER. I ASKED AGAIN FOR A LOWER ALT AND THE CTLR SAID IT WOULD BE 6-8 MORE MINS. I TOLD THE CTLR THAT I WAS DSNDING, UNABLE TO HOLD ALT. HE SAID I HAD TFC BELOW ME AT FL390. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS BEING INFLUENCED BY THE WX AND COULD NOT HOLD ALT AND RECOMMENDED THAT WE BOTH TURN FOR CLRNC. HE APPROVED A LOWER ALT AND SOME FURTHER HDGS AT MY REQUEST FOR WX AVOIDANCE.
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.