A IFR C210 pilot distracted while helping his passenger with a communications issue; deviated from the assigned altitude by 600 ft

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Attributes
ACN	812038
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 5300 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	812038
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude cabin event other non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

My passenger complained that she could no longer hear me on the intercom. I began troubleshooting her problem. While checking her headset cables; I found that her 'phone' plug was not inserted securely. I returned to my scan and saw that I was approximately 600 ft above my assigned altitude. I immediately began a descent at which point the controller came on frequency to give me the altimeter setting (his polite way of asking me to get down to where I belonged). In the future; I will try not to let unimportant concerns interfere with my operation of the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A IFR C210 PILOT DISTRACTED WHILE HELPING HIS PASSENGER WITH A COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE; DEVIATED FROM THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE BY 600 FT

Narrative: MY PAX COMPLAINED THAT SHE COULD NO LONGER HEAR ME ON THE INTERCOM. I BEGAN TROUBLESHOOTING HER PROB. WHILE CHKING HER HEADSET CABLES; I FOUND THAT HER 'PHONE' PLUG WAS NOT INSERTED SECURELY. I RETURNED TO MY SCAN AND SAW THAT I WAS APPROX 600 FT ABOVE MY ASSIGNED ALT. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSCNT AT WHICH POINT THE CTLR CAME ON FREQ TO GIVE ME THE ALTIMETER SETTING (HIS POLITE WAY OF ASKING ME TO GET DOWN TO WHERE I BELONGED). IN THE FUTURE; I WILL TRY NOT TO LET UNIMPORTANT CONCERNS INTERFERE WITH MY OP OF THE ACFT.

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.