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A CE650 aircraft deviated from its rvsm altitude after the pilot turned the avionics and inverters switches off instead of engine anti-ice. The anti-ice switches are directly below the avionics.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 798685 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200808 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zzz.artcc |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 38000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Ice |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Citation III VI VII |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : charter |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 5350 flight time type : 280 |
| ASRS Report | 798685 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
During flight at FL380 in light icing conditions; the engine anti-ice system was on. As the sat dropped below -30 degrees C; I intended to turn the engine anti-ice off. On the citation 650 series aircraft; the inverter switches and the avionics switch are located directly above the engine anti-ice switches. Instead of turning the engine anti-ice off; I turned both the avionics master switch as well as the inverters off. This resulted in total loss of all avionics and the autoplt. I realized my mistake immediately and turned both switches back on. It took approximately 1.5 mins for the screens to come back on and to re-engage the autoplt. During that period of hand flying; I had an altitude deviation of +/-600 ft. The flight had no further irregularities. There were no mechanical or electrical problems contributing to the incident.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A CE650 ACFT DEVIATED FROM ITS RVSM ALT AFTER THE PILOT TURNED THE AVIONICS AND INVERTERS SWITCHES OFF INSTEAD OF ENG ANTI-ICE. THE ANTI-ICE SWITCHES ARE DIRECTLY BELOW THE AVIONICS.
Narrative: DURING FLT AT FL380 IN LIGHT ICING CONDITIONS; THE ENG ANTI-ICE SYS WAS ON. AS THE SAT DROPPED BELOW -30 DEGS C; I INTENDED TO TURN THE ENG ANTI-ICE OFF. ON THE CITATION 650 SERIES ACFT; THE INVERTER SWITCHES AND THE AVIONICS SWITCH ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ENG ANTI-ICE SWITCHES. INSTEAD OF TURNING THE ENG ANTI-ICE OFF; I TURNED BOTH THE AVIONICS MASTER SWITCH AS WELL AS THE INVERTERS OFF. THIS RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF ALL AVIONICS AND THE AUTOPLT. I REALIZED MY MISTAKE IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED BOTH SWITCHES BACK ON. IT TOOK APPROX 1.5 MINS FOR THE SCREENS TO COME BACK ON AND TO RE-ENGAGE THE AUTOPLT. DURING THAT PERIOD OF HAND FLYING; I HAD AN ALTDEV OF +/-600 FT. THE FLT HAD NO FURTHER IRREGULARITIES. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROBS CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT.
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.