Dc-9 flight crew has an altitude excursion in rvsm airspace.

Attributes
ACN	726182
Time
Date	200702
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ftz.vortac
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 34000 msl bound upper : 34300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : bradford5
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 8800
ASRS Report	726182
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After leveling at FL340; my first officer (the PF) ate a sandwich purchased before departing ZZZ for ord (10 hour duty day with no meal breaks necessitated eating en route). While eating; my first officer got his fingers greasy; and when he finished; wiped his fingers; the throttles; and the autoplt control panel with a wet wipe. While wiping the autoplt control panel; he inadvertently knocked the autoplt out of the altitude hold mode and into climb mode. We did not immediately notice the slow climb because of continuous light turbulence. When the altitude alerter alarmed at 34250 ft; the first officer disconnected the autoplt and descended back to FL340. The altitude deviation was probably about +300 ft. I did not note the exact deviation because just as the first officer disconnected the autoplt; center called on the radio and asked us to verify our altitude. As 'pm' I answered the call and reported that at that time we were at 34200 ft and descending. I am unaware of any conflict with other traffic and do not believe any conflict occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC-9 FLT CREW HAS AN ALT EXCURSION IN RVSM AIRSPACE.

Narrative: AFTER LEVELING AT FL340; MY FO (THE PF) ATE A SANDWICH PURCHASED BEFORE DEPARTING ZZZ FOR ORD (10 HOUR DUTY DAY WITH NO MEAL BREAKS NECESSITATED EATING ENRTE). WHILE EATING; MY FO GOT HIS FINGERS GREASY; AND WHEN HE FINISHED; WIPED HIS FINGERS; THE THROTTLES; AND THE AUTOPLT CTL PANEL WITH A WET WIPE. WHILE WIPING THE AUTOPLT CTL PANEL; HE INADVERTENTLY KNOCKED THE AUTOPLT OUT OF THE ALT HOLD MODE AND INTO CLB MODE. WE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THE SLOW CLB BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS LIGHT TURB. WHEN THE ALT ALERTER ALARMED AT 34250 FT; THE FO DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND DSNDED BACK TO FL340. THE ALT DEV WAS PROBABLY ABOUT +300 FT. I DID NOT NOTE THE EXACT DEV BECAUSE JUST AS THE FO DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT; CTR CALLED ON THE RADIO AND ASKED US TO VERIFY OUR ALT. AS 'PM' I ANSWERED THE CALL AND REPORTED THAT AT THAT TIME WE WERE AT 34200 FT AND DSNDING. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC AND DO NOT BELIEVE ANY CONFLICT OCCURRED.

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.