B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 289
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
Center cleared us to climb to 15;000 on a heading of 180 with a current altimeter setting of 29.55. The First Officer was flying and we received a TCAS Traffic Advisory at 14;600 MSL climbing. Immediately we received a TCAS 'Adjust Vertical Speed' Resolution Advisory. The First Officer turned off the autopilot/autothrottles and followed the command bars leveling at 14;900 MSL. The traffic was in sight and level at 16;000 MSL. We informed Center that we were responding to a TCAS RA. The First Officer turned on the autopilot when we were level at 15;000 MSL. I then called Center back; again informing him of the TCAS RA. Center responded there was a possible pilot deviation and to copy down a [phone number]. The First Officer followed the TCAS guidelines in the non-normal section of the QRH and we properly responded to the TCAS event.
The Captain notified ATC we were responding to a TCAS RA; but got no reply. I leveled the aircraft at 15;000 feet (our original clearance limit altitude) after the RA terminated. I visually spotted the traffic above us at 16;000 feet and called it out to the Captain. The Captain once again advised Center that we had responded to a TCAS RA. At no time did we bust through our 15;000 feet altitude limit while responding to the TCAS RA.
When a B737-700 flight crew responded as directed to a TCAS RA Center advised their required compliance with the TCAS commands may have resulted in a deviation.