Unauthorized heading track change during departure procedure.

Attributes
ACN	203960
Time
Date	199203
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8300 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
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 : 1100 flight time type : 12
ASRS Report	203960
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying the oasis 6 departure, beatty transition. Upon reaching oasis intersection at between 8000 ft and 8500 ft, I began a turn from the 211 degree radial to a heading of 260 degrees. ATC notified me that my turn was premature, that the turn could not be made until reaching 9500 ft due to terrain, notwithstanding the fact that I had reached oasis intersection (the point at which the beatty transition is to begin). The problem arose because in my view the SID is unclr as to what the pilot should do if (as was the case for me) my aircraft's climb gradient was insufficient to reach 9500 ft at oasis intersection. I was in quandary and decided to proceed with the turn as called for by my clearance, since I was not cleared past oasis intersection, except by turning onto the beatty transition. I should have asked ATC, but became distracted by other cockpit duties. I believe the SID should specify (or the clearance should) what the pilot should do in the event of insufficient climb performance -- like a lost communication or efc notice from ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTHORIZED HDG TRACK CHANGE DURING DEP PROC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING THE OASIS 6 DEP, BEATTY TRANSITION. UPON REACHING OASIS INTXN AT BTWN 8000 FT AND 8500 FT, I BEGAN A TURN FROM THE 211 DEG RADIAL TO A HDG OF 260 DEGS. ATC NOTIFIED ME THAT MY TURN WAS PREMATURE, THAT THE TURN COULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL REACHING 9500 FT DUE TO TERRAIN, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT I HAD REACHED OASIS INTXN (THE POINT AT WHICH THE BEATTY TRANSITION IS TO BEGIN). THE PROBLEM AROSE BECAUSE IN MY VIEW THE SID IS UNCLR AS TO WHAT THE PLT SHOULD DO IF (AS WAS THE CASE FOR ME) MY ACFT'S CLB GRADIENT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO REACH 9500 FT AT OASIS INTXN. I WAS IN QUANDARY AND DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE TURN AS CALLED FOR BY MY CLRNC, SINCE I WAS NOT CLRED PAST OASIS INTXN, EXCEPT BY TURNING ONTO THE BEATTY TRANSITION. I SHOULD HAVE ASKED ATC, BUT BECAME DISTRACTED BY OTHER COCKPIT DUTIES. I BELIEVE THE SID SHOULD SPECIFY (OR THE CLRNC SHOULD) WHAT THE PLT SHOULD DO IN THE EVENT OF INSUFFICIENT CLB PERFORMANCE -- LIKE A LOST COM OR EFC NOTICE FROM ATC.

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.