ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN CLB. FO; PF; FORGOT TO SET ALT TO QNH FROM QFE.

Date: 1992-02 · Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng · Phase: climb

Anomalies: deviation-altitude-overshoot|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-clearance

Synopsis

ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN CLB. FO; PF; FORGOT TO SET ALT TO QNH FROM QFE.

Narrative

CLRED TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 10000 FT. THE FO WAS FLYING THE ACFT. I MADE A CALL LEAVING 9000 FOR 10000 FT. AT 9800 FT I REALIZED FO WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO LEVEL THE ACFT. (HE WAS HAND FLYING THE ACFT). I GRABBED THE WHEEL AND PUSHED ACFT OVER AND WE CLBED TO 10250 FT BEFORE RETURNING TO ASSIGNED ALT. COMPANY HAS AN ALTIMETER POLICY OF SETTING QFE FOR ALL DEPS AND LNDGS AND FO DID NOT RESET QNH DURING CLBOUT AND CONSEQUENTLY THOUGHT HE WAS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT. FO WAS ALSO NEW IN ACFT WHICH I FEEL CONTRIBUTED TO PROBLEM. WHEN THE FO IS FLYING; AS WELL AS THE CAPT; AND THE ALTIMETERS ARE SET FOR QFE THE STAND BY ALTIMETER IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF ALT AND IT IS OUTSIDE YOUR NORMAL SCAN WHICH CAUSES MANY PROBLEMS DURING LOW ALT LEVEL OFFS. THE CHKLIST DOESN'T CALL FOR QNH TO BE RESET UNTIL 10000 FT SO IF YOU GET BUSY AND FORGET; YOU RESORT TO YOUR NORMAL SCAN; WHICH IS YOUR MAIN ALTIMETER; AND YOU CAN HAVE PROBLEMS. ANOTHER FACTOR IS THIS ACFT GIVES NO AURAL WARNING WHEN YOU ARE APCHING YOUR ASSIGNED ALT. THIS WOULD HELP ELIMINATE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM; BOTH CLBING AND DSNDING; WHEN THE WORKLOAD IS THE HIGHEST.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.