An instructor providing IFR training in a C-172 allowed himself to get distracted by taking student ...

Narrative:

While supervising a student conducting an instrument approach I noted that he/she had incorrectly selected the outbound radial [rather than its reciprocal inbound course] to comply with our ATC clearance. I noted this; and then waited a period to see if the student would correct the error. I eventually changed it for them and they started to debate with me. Then ATC called. In retrospect there had been a repeat of the same sort of errors with respect to a clearance. At the time I had the impression that they had cleared us for the approach and we shortly began a procedure turn. We hadn't deviated very far from the course when ATC advised that we weren't cleared and that we indeed should continue outbound. I began writing notes for the debrief in my new electronic flight bag (efb) and continued to have things occur that required annotation. Unfamiliarity with the system to take notes efficiently diverted my attention from the student selecting the incorrect inbound course and by the time I noticed the error--by looking outside--we were almost one mile off course with less than 4 miles to go to the map. Embarrassing to say the least. Technology needs to serve its purpose and not be a distraction. As an instructor my 'second' priority is giving instruction; my 'first' must always be flying the airplane. Just because a student is advanced doesn't mean that they won't make mistakes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An instructor providing IFR training in a C-172 allowed himself to get distracted by taking student error notes on a new EFB. As a result; he allowed/participated in a minor track deviation until advised by ATC.

Narrative: While supervising a student conducting an instrument approach I noted that he/she had incorrectly selected the outbound radial [rather than its reciprocal inbound course] to comply with our ATC clearance. I noted this; and then waited a period to see if the student would correct the error. I eventually changed it for them and they started to debate with me. Then ATC called. In retrospect there had been a repeat of the same sort of errors with respect to a clearance. At the time I had the impression that they had cleared us for the approach and we shortly began a procedure turn. We hadn't deviated very far from the course when ATC advised that we weren't cleared and that we indeed should continue outbound. I began writing notes for the debrief in my new electronic flight bag (EFB) and continued to have things occur that required annotation. Unfamiliarity with the system to take notes efficiently diverted my attention from the student selecting the incorrect inbound course and by the time I noticed the error--by looking outside--we were almost one mile off course with less than 4 miles to go to the MAP. Embarrassing to say the least. Technology needs to serve its purpose and not be a distraction. As an instructor my 'second' priority is giving instruction; my 'first' must always be flying the airplane. Just because a student is advanced doesn't mean that they won't make mistakes.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1019101
Time
Date	201206
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	GFK.Airport
State Reference	ND
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 3000 Flight Crew Type 1000
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

An instructor providing IFR training in a C-172 allowed himself to get distracted by taking student error notes on a new efb. As a result; he allowed/participated in a minor track deviation until advised by ATC.