PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15.4; Flight Crew Total 1150; Flight Crew Type 915
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
I was flying a Cherokee southeast bound at 3;500 FT on a flight from 2B3 to ASH. When I passed abeam of 8B1; I began verifying frequencies on my charts and tuning radios in preparation for contacting Boston Approach. I was required to contact Boston Approach because our route of flight would take us through the edge of Manchester Class C airspace prior to entering Nashua Class D. While I was performing this task; a passenger remarked that there was a 'big airplane to our right.' I looked up and saw a single-engine retractable-gear converging at my 1 o'clock and about a half mile; northeast bound; at or slightly above my altitude. I immediately pitched down and turned to the right so as to pass below and behind the converging traffic. The other airplane made no apparent change in altitude indicated 3;100 FT; so our vertical separation was about 400 FT and I estimated our horizontal separation was about the same. Both aircraft were operating at the appropriate altitude for the direction of flight. The aircraft to my right had the right of way and thanks to my observant passenger I was able to see and yield to that aircraft. Upon reflection however; there are still lessons to be learned:1. A traffic alert system; whether an on-board electronic system; ATC flight following; or an observant passenger; contributes to the see and avoid concept and greatly increases safety.2. Complex cockpit tasks; such as finding and tuning multiple radio frequencies should be divided into smaller tasks so that the pilot can avoid longer periods of 'head-down' time and thereby scan for traffic more frequently; and3. Although pilots receive training in scanning for traffic and practice maneuvers that require immediate pilot input; such as go-arounds; stall recover; and recovery from critical attitudes; at no time can I remember receiving training in traffic avoidance maneuvers at cruise speeds. Such training might be beneficial. Of course; it would always be better to practice items 1 & 2 and resolve conflicts sooner.
A PA28 passenger detected converging traffic at 3;500 FT near 8B1 as the pilot was looking at charts for frequencies and so the pilot took evasive action to avoid the other aircraft by 400 FT.