B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 196; Flight Crew Type 4618
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Human Factors
Lost situational awareness in relation to altitude at DARRK as attention was focused on staying above wake turbulence from a heavy B777 just in front and above on same departure routing. Continually in and out of what felt like the wake turbulence from the B777 throughout the departure. A couple of miles from DARRK I noticed we were climbing through 13;500 feet and altitude requirement at DARKK was at or below 12;000 feet. I verbalized the potential altitude deviation to the Captain; he attempted to correct the situation by stopping the climb and starting a shallow descent. I quickly called ATC (SoCal departure) and confessed that we would NOT be at or below 12;000 at DARRK; immediately we were cleared to climb and maintain FL230 prior to crossing DARRK.
B737 NG First Officer reported climbing above an altitude restriction departing LAX when they were distracted by wake turbulence from the preceding B777.