2006-02 · NASA ASRS report 686537
A C421 PLT PROGRAMMING A GARMIN 530 DURING HIS FAA CHKRIDE OVERSHOT HIS ASSIGNED ALT.
THIS WAS AN FAA CHKRIDE FOR MY PART 135 SINGLE ACFT; SINGLE PLT CHARTER BUSINESS. WE WERE EXECUTING A MISSED APCH FROM HKY AND WERE INSTRUCTED BY CTR TO CLB TO 4000 FT AND PROCEED DIRECT TO BZM AND HOLD. I WAS PROGRAMMING THE GARMIN 530 GPS AND STARTING TO SET THE ALT INTO MY AUTOPLT (STEC 55X) WHEN MY EXAMINER ASKED ME WHAT ALT I WAS CLBING TO. I WAS AT 4200 FT. BEFORE I COULD CORRECT; WE HIT 4300 FT. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 4000 FT. ATC SAID NOTHING BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE I HAD THE FAA ON BOARD MY AIRPLANE! FOR 25 YEARS I MORE OR LESS HAND FLEW MY AIRPLANES. IN THE LAST YEAR I'VE FLYING AN AIRPLANE WITH MUCH BETTER EQUIP AND HAVE SLOWLY BEGUN TO USE IT MORE. THIS WAS A CLASSIC 'HEADS DOWN WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP' SITUATION. PLUS; MY EXAMINER IS VERY DISTRACTING (ON PURPOSE) CONSTANTLY PEPPERING ME WITH QUESTIONS WHILE I'M FLYING COMPLICATED PROCS. IN THE FUTURE; I'M GOING TO 'AVIATE; NAVIGATE; AND COMMUNICATE' IN THAT ORDER. I WILL NOT BECOME OBSESSED WITH THE BLACK BOXES. I'M GOING TO FLY THE AIRPLANE VERSUS LETTING THE BLACK BOXES FLY IT. I'LL USE THEM TO HELP; ONCE I'VE FIRST GOT THE AIRPLANE DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO MANUALLY.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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