A fractional flight crew reported the Captain flying released the control column before the autopilot was engaged resulting in a temporary loss of control.
Synopsis
A fractional flight crew reported the Captain flying released the control column before the autopilot was engaged resulting in a temporary loss of control.
Narrative
After departing ZZZ and climbing through 6000 feet to our assigned altitude of 8000 feet; I was hand flying and we were being given multiple instructions on heading and altitude. I saw that the First Officer was busy so I asked him to engage the autopilot. At the same time that I asked for the autopilot ATC assigned us a heading of 280. He turned the heading selector knob to 280 and I assumed that after that; he engaged the autopilot so I let go of the control column to set the airspeed to 250. After setting the airspeed; I looked over to the heading selector and saw that we were passing through a heading of 340. At the same time ; the First Officer told me we were descending. I immediately looked at the PFD (Primary Flight Display) and saw that we were descending and approaching a right turn 45 degree bank angle. I pressed the Master Disconnect (MSW) button; arrested the descent and started a correction back to our assigned heading. ATC asked us where we were going and gave us a heading of 270. Before reaching our new assigned heading; he gave us a heading of 330. After getting the airplane back under control; we engaged the autopilot. Nothing else was mentioned by ATC. Cause: I didn't verify that the autopilot was engaged before letting go of the control column and immediately went to set the airspeed and verify our heading. I let the high workload and busy frequency distract me from my primary duty of pilot flying. Also; not calling for autopilot engagement earlier; I feel contributed to this deviation. Suggestions: In busy airspace; I think engaging the autopilot as soon as feasible can help avoid what we encountered today. Also; applying the review principle to verify the autopilot was engaged may have prevented this from occurring.
Second reporter narrative
Loss of altitude and departure from assigned heading. In a few seconds; I finished my flow; and looked up to see the Captain had stopped flying the aircraft. I called out that we're descending; and reached for the controls to regain control of the aircraft.Cause: On departure from ZZZ enroute to ZZZ1; the takeoff and initial climb were uneventful. Departure had taken us off the departure procedure; and assigned us a heading and altitude to climb to of 6000'. The Captain was the PF (pilot flying) in the left seat; and was hand flying the aircraft; I was the PM (pilot monitoring) in the right seat. Since he was hand flying; I reached over to the FGP (Flight Guidance Panel) and set 280* and activated hdg mode; and set 6000' that was assigned to us. I said hdg 280 and 6000' set. The Captain acknowledged. I went back to finishing up my after takeoff flow; then the checklist. When I completed my tasks; I'd estimate it only took 30 seconds or less; I looked up at the PFD (Primary Flight Diplay) and we were in a descending right turn at a 40* bank angle. I called out were descending to the Captain and reached for the controls to recover. At just when I started to pull back on the controls Captain had began recovering so I relinquished control back to him. When he recovered the aircraft we had lost roughly 400' and had went past our hdg 60*. Once we began climbing; ATC asked us what was going on before I could ask the Captain. I asked him are you ok? What's going on? He said he was fine and to tell them the Autopilot kicked off". I did as he asked; we were given some stern words by the controller but he ultimately did not give us a number to call. After we continued to climb out I asked him if he's ok and what happened I thought you were hand flying the plane? Through the course of the discussion he thought he had told me to engage the Autopilot during the initial turn. I never heard him give me that instruction. The last I knew based on what I was seeing; was he was hand flying and I was assisting him with the FGP due to that. Once I had done that for him; I thought it was safe and prudent to resume what I was doing with my duties as PM; and if we were given further ATC instructions I would pause my duties again to assist him with the FGP so he could continue hand flying.Suggestions: This could've been avoided by better communication from the PF to the PM; and the PF checking the scoreboard on the PFD to see if the Autopilot was on. Even if he hadn't asked; but thought he had; a look at the scoreboard would have told him what was actually happening. Also; ZZZ is very busy and complicated airspace; I enjoy hand flying as much as the next pilot; but places like ZZZ; ZZZ2; ZZZ3; ZZZ4; etc aren't really good places to do so. They're good places to engage the Autopilot as soon as you can; and let it help you with the high workload in these airport environments. That's just my personal opinion."
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.