B737-700 flight crew has an altitude deviation during climb.

Attributes
ACN	719105
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 186 flight time type : 186
ASRS Report	719105
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While climbing through 3000 ft to an assigned altitude of 4000 ft; we experienced a compressor stall on the #2 engine. While handling the emergency; we exceeded our assigned altitude by 500 ft. Given the surge of the engine and the yaw factor; I was unable to engage the autoplt. We immediately declared an emergency and corrected our altitude. I should have concentrated solely on flying the aircraft instead of trying to assist the first officer on the emergency checklist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 FLT CREW HAS AN ALTDEV DURING CLB.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING THROUGH 3000 FT TO AN ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT; WE EXPERIENCED A COMPRESSOR STALL ON THE #2 ENG. WHILE HANDLING THE EMER; WE EXCEEDED OUR ASSIGNED ALT BY 500 FT. GIVEN THE SURGE OF THE ENG AND THE YAW FACTOR; I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE AUTOPLT. WE IMMEDIATELY DECLARED AN EMER AND CORRECTED OUR ALT. I SHOULD HAVE CONCENTRATED SOLELY ON FLYING THE ACFT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO ASSIST THE FO ON THE EMER CHKLIST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.