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GA small aircraft altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude while pilot was trying to resolve a gear problem. Up latch failure allowed gear to extend during cruise flight.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 86272 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198804 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : dfw |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9400 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zfw |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 1350 |
| ASRS Report | 86272 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
While in level cruise in VFR conditions, ese of dallas at assigned altitude of 9000', gear suddenly fell down. Indicated airspeed at the time was approximately 140 KTS. Maximum gear operating speed is supposed to be 110 KTS. Gear retraction is physically almost impossible if airspeed is above 85 knots. While slowing the aircraft in order to retract the gear, we inadvertently climbed 300-400' above assigned altitude. We immediately returned to assigned altitude. Entire incident probably did not last more than a minute. As far as we know, no other aircraft were in the vicinity. No evasive action was necessary. Ft worth center was informed of problem. We have discussed problem with gear locking mechanism with mechanic and are checking mechanism. The aircraft displayed a red 'up and locked' light prior to the incident. Aircraft has manual gear.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: GA SMA ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT WHILE PLT WAS TRYING TO RESOLVE A GEAR PROBLEM. UP LATCH FAILURE ALLOWED GEAR TO EXTEND DURING CRUISE FLT.
Narrative: WHILE IN LEVEL CRUISE IN VFR CONDITIONS, ESE OF DALLAS AT ASSIGNED ALT OF 9000', GEAR SUDDENLY FELL DOWN. INDICATED AIRSPEED AT THE TIME WAS APPROX 140 KTS. MAX GEAR OPERATING SPEED IS SUPPOSED TO BE 110 KTS. GEAR RETRACTION IS PHYSICALLY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IF AIRSPEED IS ABOVE 85 KNOTS. WHILE SLOWING THE ACFT IN ORDER TO RETRACT THE GEAR, WE INADVERTENTLY CLIMBED 300-400' ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. WE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO ASSIGNED ALT. ENTIRE INCIDENT PROBABLY DID NOT LAST MORE THAN A MINUTE. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, NO OTHER ACFT WERE IN THE VICINITY. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NECESSARY. FT WORTH CENTER WAS INFORMED OF PROBLEM. WE HAVE DISCUSSED PROBLEM WITH GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM WITH MECHANIC AND ARE CHECKING MECHANISM. THE ACFT DISPLAYED A RED 'UP AND LOCKED' LIGHT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. ACFT HAS MANUAL GEAR.
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.