Air carrier large transport altitude deviation overshot during climbout from dfw.

Attributes
ACN	81652
Time
Date	198801
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	81652
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On climb out from dfw at about 15000', experienced an engine malfunction which ultimately required a return to dfw. While handling the malfunction and talking to center, the crew did not reset altimeters to 29.92 prior to leveling at FL250. The error was discovered and corrected within a matter of mins. The primary cause was the attention given to the go/return decision which included discussion with company maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMBOUT FROM DFW.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT FROM DFW AT ABOUT 15000', EXPERIENCED AN ENG MALFUNCTION WHICH ULTIMATELY REQUIRED A RETURN TO DFW. WHILE HANDLING THE MALFUNCTION AND TALKING TO CENTER, THE CREW DID NOT RESET ALTIMETERS TO 29.92 PRIOR TO LEVELING AT FL250. THE ERROR WAS DISCOVERED AND CORRECTED WITHIN A MATTER OF MINS. THE PRIMARY CAUSE WAS THE ATTN GIVEN TO THE GO/RETURN DECISION WHICH INCLUDED DISCUSSION WITH COMPANY MAINT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.