Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 182
Troubleshooting; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Equipment / Tooling
After takeoff and clean aircraft we had a frequency change to SoCal Departure. The aircraft was warm so the F/O was checking the air conditioning pacs. I had selected autopilot A; which did not engage and took me a couple of seconds to realize it because of the climb and I thought it captured 7;000 feet. I did not select VOR/LOC and was pushing up climb power. ATC was calling another carrier (our number); he used this call sign at least three times; and was asking if we were turning onto the radial to POM but using the other carrier call sign. PNF said we were in the turn and ATC advised us that we had missed it by about 2 miles. The plane climbed to about 7;300 feet I began a descent back down as I was not sure if we were north of the POM at the time. When I knew we were back on the right course and position I resumed the climb.
I was the PM on the Pomona Departure out of ONT. Everything was normal and standard through the takeoff and initial climb. Captain briefed the SID; but not the modes he would be using. At 400 feet he called for heading select and he flew the 256 bug to intercept the POM 114 radial inbound. At that point I became distracted by selecting the packs to high; the power reduction that accompanies it. He became distracted by something also and we flew through the radial without intercepting and climbed above the 7;000 foot crossing restriction at Pomona by about 400 feet. During all this the Captain attempted to select the autopilot on but it didn't take because he didn't press the button hard enough. So he thought the AP was engaged when it wasn't; which is why we blew through 7;000 feet although 7;000 feet was in the altitude window. Neither of us were monitoring the FMA or the flight path (vertical or lateral). When we realized what was happening; ATC called and queried us on our track but not our altitude. We were about 2 or 3 miles SW of POM when we turned toward POM and descended back to 7;000 feet.
Pilots report of busting an altitude and flying slightly off course due to auto pilot not engaging; and doing other duties in the cockpit.