Primary student inadvertently engages autoplt in small aircraft trainer unknown to instructor who takes controls, returns to non tower airport base, and makes straight in approach.

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Attributes
ACN	149939
Time
Date	199006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 2w5
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 170 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	149939
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The presolo student unintentionally activated the autoplt while adjusting the elevator trim. The aircraft attempted to track to a nearby VOR. The instrument took the controls and experienced difficulty. A straight-in approach was made to maryland airport after intentions were announced over the unicom 122.7. Upon landing it was discovered by the CFI that the autoplt had been activated. This event will be discussed at the next club safety meeting.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIMARY STUDENT INADVERTENTLY ENGAGES AUTOPLT IN SMA TRAINER UNKNOWN TO INSTRUCTOR WHO TAKES CONTROLS, RETURNS TO NON TWR ARPT BASE, AND MAKES STRAIGHT IN APCH.

Narrative: THE PRESOLO STUDENT UNINTENTIONALLY ACTIVATED THE AUTOPLT WHILE ADJUSTING THE ELEVATOR TRIM. THE ACFT ATTEMPTED TO TRACK TO A NEARBY VOR. THE INSTR TOOK THE CTLS AND EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY. A STRAIGHT-IN APCH WAS MADE TO MARYLAND ARPT AFTER INTENTIONS WERE ANNOUNCED OVER THE UNICOM 122.7. UPON LNDG IT WAS DISCOVERED BY THE CFI THAT THE AUTOPLT HAD BEEN ACTIVATED. THIS EVENT WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE NEXT CLUB SAFETY MEETING.

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.