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BE55 pilot experiences altitude deviation when altitude hold fails to capture while pilot is distracted reprogramming avionics for a runway change.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 736953 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200704 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ind.airport |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3600 msl bound upper : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : ind.tracon tower : ord.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Baron 55/Cochise |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 325 flight time type : 5 |
| ASRS Report | 736953 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On vectors for approach and landing at ind. ATIS indicated that arriving traffic should expect the ILS to runway 5L approach. I had set up for the ILS to runway 5L. Given descent to 4000 ft and told to set up for runway 5R. I descended to 4000 ft and pressed the altitude hold on the autoplt. I then changed my terminal procedures to runway 5R and looked to see the MDA as I knew that it was different. As I scanned the altimeter I realized that the altitude hold had not captured and I had gone below the assigned altitude. I believe that I descended to approximately 3600 ft. Approach never questioned my altitude or indicated that I had a deviation. I promptly returned to 4000 ft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: BE55 PLT EXPERIENCES ALT DEV WHEN ALT HOLD FAILS TO CAPTURE WHILE PLT IS DISTRACTED REPROGRAMMING AVIONICS FOR A RWY CHANGE.
Narrative: ON VECTORS FOR APCH AND LNDG AT IND. ATIS INDICATED THAT ARRIVING TFC SHOULD EXPECT THE ILS TO RWY 5L APCH. I HAD SET UP FOR THE ILS TO RWY 5L. GIVEN DSCNT TO 4000 FT AND TOLD TO SET UP FOR RWY 5R. I DSNDED TO 4000 FT AND PRESSED THE ALT HOLD ON THE AUTOPLT. I THEN CHANGED MY TERMINAL PROCS TO RWY 5R AND LOOKED TO SEE THE MDA AS I KNEW THAT IT WAS DIFFERENT. AS I SCANNED THE ALTIMETER I REALIZED THAT THE ALT HOLD HAD NOT CAPTURED AND I HAD GONE BELOW THE ASSIGNED ALT. I BELIEVE THAT I DSNDED TO APPROX 3600 FT. APCH NEVER QUESTIONED MY ALT OR INDICATED THAT I HAD A DEV. I PROMPTLY RETURNED TO 4000 FT.
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.