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A PA46 deviated for the assigned altitude while flying with the ap off in order to move the elevator to prevent ice build up with the horizontal stabilizer.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 804764 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200809 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : abq.airport |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 13780 msl bound upper : 14000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Weather Elements | Ice Rain Turbulence |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zab.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-46 Malibu |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 50 |
| ASRS Report | 804764 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
Was in cruise from northwest of abq to sjn with a right off course deviation from center for WX. Conditions were generally IFR with breaks in clouds frequently; just below freezing temperatures. Icing conditions were present and ongoing use of aircraft deice equipment was required. Ice was accumulating first on the tail; and the PA46 training stresses heavily the importance of not allowing an ice bridge to be formed from the horizontal stabilizer to the elevator. To do so; this autoplt is turned off and elevator manually moved. I performed this action a couple different times. After doing so once; I believed I had re-engaged the autoplt but had not. My altitude had decreased by 220 ft (13780) indicated before I recognized it; at which time I immediately climbed back to 14000 ft MSL. I continued the flight. Upon leveling back at 14000 ft; the controller asked me to verify 14000 ft; which I did. In future; must be more vigilant to confirm altitude and confirmation of autoplt engagement.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PA46 DEVIATED FOR THE ASSIGNED ALT WHILE FLYING WITH THE AP OFF IN ORDER TO MOVE THE ELEVATOR TO PREVENT ICE BUILD UP WITH THE HORIZONTAL STAB.
Narrative: WAS IN CRUISE FROM NW OF ABQ TO SJN WITH A R OFF COURSE DEV FROM CTR FOR WX. CONDITIONS WERE GENERALLY IFR WITH BREAKS IN CLOUDS FREQUENTLY; JUST BELOW FREEZING TEMPS. ICING CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT AND ONGOING USE OF ACFT DEICE EQUIP WAS REQUIRED. ICE WAS ACCUMULATING FIRST ON THE TAIL; AND THE PA46 TRAINING STRESSES HEAVILY THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT ALLOWING AN ICE BRIDGE TO BE FORMED FROM THE HORIZ STABILIZER TO THE ELEVATOR. TO DO SO; THIS AUTOPLT IS TURNED OFF AND ELEVATOR MANUALLY MOVED. I PERFORMED THIS ACTION A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES. AFTER DOING SO ONCE; I BELIEVED I HAD RE-ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT BUT HAD NOT. MY ALT HAD DECREASED BY 220 FT (13780) INDICATED BEFORE I RECOGNIZED IT; AT WHICH TIME I IMMEDIATELY CLBED BACK TO 14000 FT MSL. I CONTINUED THE FLT. UPON LEVELING BACK AT 14000 FT; THE CTLR ASKED ME TO VERIFY 14000 FT; WHICH I DID. IN FUTURE; MUST BE MORE VIGILANT TO CONFIRM ALT AND CONFIRMATION OF AUTOPLT ENGAGEMENT.
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.