Aircraft flight crew cited distractions during climb through FL180 as cause of missed climb check and failure to observe the altimeter setting rule.
Synopsis
Aircraft flight crew cited distractions during climb through FL180 as cause of missed climb check and failure to observe the altimeter setting rule.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
Altimeter was not set to 29.92 inches at 18,000 feet and climb check omitted due to unexpected moderate turbulence simultaneously with frequency and route change, and with flight attendants entering cockpit due to passenger problem.
Error discovered after leveling at FL410 and altimeter still set to departure of 29.41 inches. It was discovered by us when control advised us to check altimeter 29.92 inches.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
ALTIMETER WAS NOT SET TO 29.92 INCHES AT 18000 FT AND CLB CHK OMITTED DUE TO UNEXPECTED MODERATE TURB SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH FREQ AND RTE CHANGE; AND WITH FLT ATTENDANTS ENTERING COCKPIT DUE TO PAX PROB. ERROR DISCOVERED AFTER LEVELING AT FL410 AND ALTIMETER STILL SET TO DEP OF 29.41 INCHES. IT WAS DISCOVERED BY US WHEN CTR ADVISED US TO CHK ALTIMETER 29.92 INCHES.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.