Navigation equipment in newly purchased aircraft allegedly erratic.

Attributes
ACN	180369
Time
Date	199105
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gai
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v213
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	180369
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I accepted delivery of a newly purchased small aircraft and flew it from jacksonville, nc to gaithersburg, md then to kansas. Avionics checked ok on the ground, but did strange things at altitude. Center noted I was well off V213. Problem traced to #2 navigation (center was informed and said 'no problem). Avionics were checked by gai avionics shop. The next trip (6/91) NAV1, NAV2, COM1, autoplt and ADF worked erratically from gai to tri. Navigation was acceptable, but distraction led to an altitude excursion to 8300' from assigned 8000' (V37-roa approach). Subsequent repairs at tri still haven't solved the avionics problems, since the equipment continues to function well on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT IN NEWLY PURCHASED ACFT ALLEGEDLY ERRATIC.

Narrative: I ACCEPTED DELIVERY OF A NEWLY PURCHASED SMA AND FLEW IT FROM JACKSONVILLE, NC TO GAITHERSBURG, MD THEN TO KANSAS. AVIONICS CHKED OK ON THE GND, BUT DID STRANGE THINGS AT ALT. CENTER NOTED I WAS WELL OFF V213. PROB TRACED TO #2 NAV (CENTER WAS INFORMED AND SAID 'NO PROB). AVIONICS WERE CHKED BY GAI AVIONICS SHOP. THE NEXT TRIP (6/91) NAV1, NAV2, COM1, AUTOPLT AND ADF WORKED ERRATICALLY FROM GAI TO TRI. NAV WAS ACCEPTABLE, BUT DISTR LED TO AN ALT EXCURSION TO 8300' FROM ASSIGNED 8000' (V37-ROA APCH). SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS AT TRI STILL HAVEN'T SOLVED THE AVIONICS PROBS, SINCE THE EQUIP CONTINUES TO FUNCTION WELL ON THE GND.

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.