Super King Air 200
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Air Traffic Control Military 0; Air Traffic Control Non Radar 0; Air Traffic Control Radar 0; Air Traffic Control Supervisory 0; Flight Crew Last 90 Days 160; Flight Crew Total 1600; Flight Crew Type 60
Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
On takeoff; we were told to fly heading 230 (runway heading) to 3;000. As a new pilot flying; I was at the controls in the right seat flying the airplane to our directed heading and altitude. Upon reaching 3;000 feet; the autopilot gave all indications of capture and blew through its selected modes. The climb rate maintained over 2;000 before the controls were taken by the Captain. Upon reaching 3;300 feet we entered at steep turn to a heading of 160 and attempted to continue a descent as the trim was running all the way to the trim up position and airspeed was increasing. We slowed the aircraft down while simultaneously disengaging the autopilot and gaining positive control of the aircraft. This was critical because an aircraft with lost communications was above us at 4;000 feet. Once we cleared of the traffic the flight went smooth for the rest of the way. An improvement that would have helped this situation is more automation management as well as a full panel on the copilot side which would have helped notice the climb rate continuing rather than capturing. We later perceived the autopilot to failed and continued the flight without any further issues.
Copilot was flying on autopilot. Alt sel was armed. Gave all indications of capturing but did not. I took control and returned to the correct altitude. Approach Control Supervisor advised there was no conflict in airspace with other traffic. Remainder of flight was uneventful.
Super King Air 200 flight crew reported autopilot failure including an uncommanded pitch trim event caused them to overshoot the assigned altitude prior to autopilot disconnect.