An ipad's internal magnets reportedly caused an IFR M201J 15 degree compass error; which ATC detecte...

Attributes
ACN	1274200
Time
Date	201506
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	M-20 J (201) / Allegro
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors Airway V186
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Tablet
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 9 Flight Crew Total 450 Flight Crew Type 24
Person 2
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60 Flight Crew Total 6000 Flight Crew Type 60
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

While on IFR tower enroute [clearance]; route was listed as initial vectors. While being vectored around traffic; PIC was informed that aircraft heading was 15 degrees off ATC's requested heading. PIC verified heading indicator and compass using the runway heading prior to roll-out; and both instruments were accurate. After being informed of the PIC revised the heading indicator to reflect the 15 degree deviation; and didn't use the compass as a secondary check due to the reported error. ATC then told us to intercept V186 and resume navigation. Localizer was verified via ident; and heading set for V186 return via V186. PIC was able to track using the localizer without issue. No further heading issue was encountered regarding the heading using the hi with the 15 degree corrective setting. PIC was effectively able to track the destination ILS localizer to a landing without incident. On investigation; after flight completion; PIC discovered that there was interference between an IPAD2 in close proximity to the compass due to magnets within the tablet itself; which was unknown to the PIC or the instructor on board; as well as other professional; and private pilots. The magnets in the IPAD2 caused the compass to deviate from an accurate heading by as much as 30 degrees; when in proximity to the ipad.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An iPad's internal magnets reportedly caused an IFR M201J 15 degree compass error; which ATC detected because of a track deviation. The compass error cause was not determined until after landing.

Narrative: While on IFR Tower enroute [clearance]; route was listed as initial vectors. While being vectored around traffic; PIC was informed that aircraft heading was 15 degrees off ATC's requested heading. PIC verified heading indicator and compass using the runway heading prior to roll-out; and both instruments were accurate. After being informed of the PIC revised the heading indicator to reflect the 15 degree deviation; and didn't use the compass as a secondary check due to the reported error. ATC then told us to intercept V186 and resume navigation. LOC was verified via ident; and heading set for V186 return via V186. PIC was able to track using the LOC without issue. No further heading issue was encountered regarding the heading using the HI with the 15 degree corrective setting. PIC was effectively able to track the destination ILS LOC to a landing without incident. On investigation; after flight completion; PIC discovered that there was interference between an IPAD2 in close proximity to the compass due to magnets within the tablet itself; which was unknown to the PIC or the instructor on board; as well as other professional; and private pilots. The magnets in the IPAD2 caused the compass to deviate from an accurate heading by as much as 30 degrees; when in proximity to the IPAD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

An ipad's internal magnets reportedly caused an IFR M201J 15 degree compass error; which ATC detected because of a track deviation. The compass error cause was not determined until after landing.