Failed to continue climb to minimum radar vector altitude.

Attributes
ACN	92592
Time
Date	198808
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : obi
State Reference	ME
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	92591
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared to climb from lower assigned altitude to 9000', the minimum vectoring altitude in the area ahead. Approaching 8000' I experienced some engine roughness, possibly carburetor ice, and in attempting to diagnose and cure this problem, inadvertently leveled at 8000' for a few mins before resuming the climb to 9000'. Having flown early in the morning to have an annual inspection performed and assisted in that work, fatigue was probably a factor, and concern about the aircraft after maintenance. Given the minimum altitude ahead, and the clearance to climb, it is doubtful that any other aircraft were affected. Sufficient visual reference was available to assure in excess of 4000' terrain clearance at 8000'. While this case appears in itself harmless. It does show all too well the hazard of combined fatigue and distraction. Additionally, if the engine problem had been reported to center, they might have provided a warning of any failure to continue climbing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAILED TO CONTINUE CLIMB TO MINIMUM RADAR VECTOR ALT.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED TO CLB FROM LOWER ASSIGNED ALT TO 9000', THE MINIMUM VECTORING ALT IN THE AREA AHEAD. APCHING 8000' I EXPERIENCED SOME ENG ROUGHNESS, POSSIBLY CARB ICE, AND IN ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE AND CURE THIS PROB, INADVERTENTLY LEVELED AT 8000' FOR A FEW MINS BEFORE RESUMING THE CLB TO 9000'. HAVING FLOWN EARLY IN THE MORNING TO HAVE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED AND ASSISTED IN THAT WORK, FATIGUE WAS PROBABLY A FACTOR, AND CONCERN ABOUT THE ACFT AFTER MAINT. GIVEN THE MINIMUM ALT AHEAD, AND THE CLRNC TO CLB, IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT ANY OTHER ACFT WERE AFFECTED. SUFFICIENT VISUAL REF WAS AVAILABLE TO ASSURE IN EXCESS OF 4000' TERRAIN CLRNC AT 8000'. WHILE THIS CASE APPEARS IN ITSELF HARMLESS. IT DOES SHOW ALL TOO WELL THE HAZARD OF COMBINED FATIGUE AND DISTR. ADDITIONALLY, IF THE ENG PROB HAD BEEN RPTED TO CENTER, THEY MIGHT HAVE PROVIDED A WARNING OF ANY FAILURE TO CONTINUE CLBING.

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.