Instructor and student in helicopter possibly entered lax TCA.

Attributes
ACN	140031
Time
Date	199003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax tracon : rdg
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	140031
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A student and I were leaving the downtown area of lax. Before departing the skyline, I instructed the student to intercept a heading of 240 degrees. Upon determined that the student had in fact turned to our heading, I directed my attention to opening our new chart, changing our frequency to santa monica ATIS. During this time I noticed that the student was looking and and enjoying the scenery. After looking outside myself I determined that the student was on the I-10 heading west. Between this time and the next time I looked at the compass (approximately 3-4 mins) we had strayed off course. Our new course was south and we were now heading toward the TCA. At this pint I took controls and did a 180 degree turn away from the TCA. I do not know if we entered the TCA or not, but I will say it was very close.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT IN HELICOPTER POSSIBLY ENTERED LAX TCA.

Narrative: A STUDENT AND I WERE LEAVING THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF LAX. BEFORE DEPARTING THE SKYLINE, I INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO INTERCEPT A HDG OF 240 DEGS. UPON DETERMINED THAT THE STUDENT HAD IN FACT TURNED TO OUR HDG, I DIRECTED MY ATTN TO OPENING OUR NEW CHART, CHANGING OUR FREQ TO SANTA MONICA ATIS. DURING THIS TIME I NOTICED THAT THE STUDENT WAS LOOKING AND AND ENJOYING THE SCENERY. AFTER LOOKING OUTSIDE MYSELF I DETERMINED THAT THE STUDENT WAS ON THE I-10 HDG W. BTWN THIS TIME AND THE NEXT TIME I LOOKED AT THE COMPASS (APPROX 3-4 MINS) WE HAD STRAYED OFF COURSE. OUR NEW COURSE WAS S AND WE WERE NOW HDG TOWARD THE TCA. AT THIS PINT I TOOK CONTROLS AND DID A 180 DEG TURN AWAY FROM THE TCA. I DO NOT KNOW IF WE ENTERED THE TCA OR NOT, BUT I WILL SAY IT WAS VERY CLOSE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.