Compass failures with WX encounter. Declared emergency.

Attributes
ACN	126355
Time
Date	198910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dqo
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 18000
ASRS Report	126355
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility

Narrative:

Air carrier X experienced compass failures while VFR, and requested and received WX deviation around ott on the phl dupont arrival. Later the controller insisted we turn right toward ott and the WX. We explained several times that we were having a number of problems, including compass failures. Out of frustration with the lack of help from the controller and concern for safety of the flight (considering the WX and aircraft failures), we were forced to declare an emergency to expedite our landing. Approach and landing at phl were normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMPASS FAILURES WITH WX ENCOUNTER. DECLARED EMERGENCY.

Narrative: ACR X EXPERIENCED COMPASS FAILURES WHILE VFR, AND REQUESTED AND RECEIVED WX DEVIATION AROUND OTT ON THE PHL DUPONT ARR. LATER THE CTLR INSISTED WE TURN RIGHT TOWARD OTT AND THE WX. WE EXPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE WERE HAVING A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS, INCLUDING COMPASS FAILURES. OUT OF FRUSTRATION WITH THE LACK OF HELP FROM THE CTLR AND CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF THE FLT (CONSIDERING THE WX AND ACFT FAILURES), WE WERE FORCED TO DECLARE AN EMER TO EXPEDITE OUR LNDG. APCH AND LNDG AT PHL WERE NORMAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.