Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 4500; Flight Crew Type 650
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
We were departing and after takeoff from Runway 15 assigned a heading 050 and climb and maintain 2;000 FT. After taking off the Captain was making a left turn from runway heading 15 to a heading of 050 and climbing to assigned altitude of 2;000 and had just completed the Takeoff Checklist. This would have been around 1;500 FT. At this time airplane began to lose power instantly and the Captain was concerned for the loss of both engines. The Captain started a left turn back to the airport and was climbing for altitude. After approximately 20 seconds to 45 seconds he was able to figure out that we had an inadvertent activation of the APR system on both engines. When I deactivated the APR system both engines did a large roll back on power; causing the feeling of losing both engines. At that point we were at altitude of about 2;800 FT and a heading of about 030. The Captain was turning back to the assigned heading and starting to head back down to the assigned altitude. The Controller made contact with us and said we were supposed to maintain heading of 050 and altitude of 2;000 FT and now climb and maintain 5;000 and contact Approach. After contacting Approach the Controller cleared us to climb and then gave us a phone number to call. We did not have any aircraft conflicts or TCAS advisories. We continued on with flight and contacted when we landed.
An HS-125-800 APR (Auto Performance Reserve) system was in inadvertently activated and at about 1;500 FT the First Officer turned the System OFF which caused a surprise power reduction similar to a dual engine failure. The Captain initiated a return to land but when he realized what had happened continued the departure.