Date: 201202
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: TEB.Airport, NJ
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: HS 125 Series
Operator: Air Taxi
Operating under: Part 135
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class B EWR
ATC / advisory: TRACON N90
Reporter organization: Air Taxi
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Distraction
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew; Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We were cleared for the TEB 8 departure; reviewed it with Captain; and set altitude for 1;500 FT for the initial altitude on the departure. It was a normal takeoff; climb; and call outs. I was hand flying the departure and at about 1;200 FT one of our passengers began yelling up at us about cabin air was too hot and the distraction caused me to continue the climb. When I looked back down we were about 1;800 FT and immediately corrected our altitude and leveled off at 1;500 FT. The Controller did notice our deviation and did not seem worried. I believe there were no separation issues with other traffic. It was a small distraction at a bad time that surprised both of us. Since I was hand flying I should have ignored the distraction or had the autopilot engaged and let it level off itself.


Second narrative: We were cleared for the TEB departure; the departure was reviewed and 1500' was set as the initial altitude. The takeoff and climb was a normal. The pilot flying was hand flying the departure. Approximately at 1200 ft one of our passengers began yelling with urgency to us about cabin air being extremely hot. I quickly gave an indication that I would take care of it. I knew the problem as our temperature controller had been having problems recently; and that is one issue on the list to remedy during major inspection scheduled next week. During the few seconds my eyes came off the altimeter to the duct/cabin temp; the Pilot Flying also was distracted and continued the climb through 1500. I then noticed we had climbed to 1800' MSL and then directed and immediate correction to 1500'. The Controller did notice our deviation; and stated such indicating no concern with any traffic conflicts; and directed us to climb to 5000'. It was a small distraction at a bad time that surprised both of us. We discussed this event and determined that the pilot flying should have ignored the distraction or had the autopilot engaged and let it level off itself.


Synopsis: HS125 flight crew reports exceeding the 1;500 FT initial level off altitude on the TEB 8 due to a passenger yelling that the cabin air was too hot just prior to level off.