<< >> NASA ASRS Report 779705, March 2008

PA30 pilot programmed the autopilot for a descent; but failed to activate the command; resulting in a climb and altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	779705
Time
Date	200803
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ism.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-30 Twin Comanche
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	779705
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On approach to kissimmee gateway (ism) I requested a lower altitude from 5000 ft. I was cleared to descend to 4000 ft. I programmed the autoplt to descend to 4000 ft. However; I did not activate the information. I then commanded the autoplt to respond. Because I had not entered the information; the autoplt then took the airplane up; rather than down. I did not notice it until ATC called me at 5500 ft. I corrected the altitude error and was cleared to 3000 ft. The remainder of the flight was unremarkable. My error was not using the autoplt correctly and then not monitoring it and stopping the altitude error.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA30 PLT PROGRAMMED THE AUTOPILOT FOR A DESCENT; BUT FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE COMMAND; RESULTING IN A CLIMB AND ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: ON APCH TO KISSIMMEE GATEWAY (ISM) I REQUESTED A LOWER ALT FROM 5000 FT. I WAS CLRED TO DSND TO 4000 FT. I PROGRAMMED THE AUTOPLT TO DSND TO 4000 FT. HOWEVER; I DID NOT ACTIVATE THE INFO. I THEN COMMANDED THE AUTOPLT TO RESPOND. BECAUSE I HAD NOT ENTERED THE INFO; THE AUTOPLT THEN TOOK THE AIRPLANE UP; RATHER THAN DOWN. I DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL ATC CALLED ME AT 5500 FT. I CORRECTED THE ALTITUDE ERROR AND WAS CLRED TO 3000 FT. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNREMARKABLE. MY ERROR WAS NOT USING THE AUTOPLT CORRECTLY AND THEN NOT MONITORING IT AND STOPPING THE ALTITUDE ERROR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.