Narrative:

Takeoff on runway 4L at newark international, departure instructions were to fly newark 4 departure and climb to 6000 ft MSL. On takeoff while in a right turn to 060 degrees, in compliance with SID, we checked in with ny departure control. Departure control assigned us a heading of 220 degrees. The SID calls for a right turn to 060 degrees to 4 DME then a left turn to 290 degrees. What I recall hearing was, 'turn to heading of 220 degrees.' as the SID called for a left turn to 290 degrees, I asked the tac and crew chief whether he said right turn, as a right turn was the shortest direction, 160 degrees off the right. My tac replied, 'right turn.' after passing through a heading of approximately 100 degrees, departure told us to tighten our turn if possible. Passing through approximately 160 degrees and 5500 ft MSL, departure said, 'continue right turn to 270 degrees, that was supposed to be a left turn, maintain 5000 ft.' in discussing the departure with the crew chief and tac, they feel certain they heard, 'right turn to 220 degrees.' I don't recall hearing a direction stated and continued my turn in the shortest direction to 220 degrees. Lessons learned: takeoff is a busy and complicated phase of flight. When all crew members are busy as well as listening to controllers we often hear what we think we want to hear. When in doubt, ask! If departure controllers desire SID compliance they should avoid issuing a heading until the turn in the proper direction is initiated. Particularly if the turn is for greater than 180 degrees. If, in fact, the controller did not issue a left turn instruction he should have.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A MLT ACFT DEVIATED FROM A SID CLRNC BY TURNING THE WRONG WAY. IT IS NOT CLR THAT ANY DEV OCCURRED IN THIS INCIDENT.

Narrative: TKOF ON RWY 4L AT NEWARK INTL, DEP INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO FLY NEWARK 4 DEP AND CLB TO 6000 FT MSL. ON TKOF WHILE IN A R TURN TO 060 DEGS, IN COMPLIANCE WITH SID, WE CHKED IN WITH NY DEP CTL. DEP CTL ASSIGNED US A HDG OF 220 DEGS. THE SID CALLS FOR A R TURN TO 060 DEGS TO 4 DME THEN A L TURN TO 290 DEGS. WHAT I RECALL HEARING WAS, 'TURN TO HDG OF 220 DEGS.' AS THE SID CALLED FOR A L TURN TO 290 DEGS, I ASKED THE TAC AND CREW CHIEF WHETHER HE SAID R TURN, AS A R TURN WAS THE SHORTEST DIRECTION, 160 DEGS OFF THE R. MY TAC REPLIED, 'R TURN.' AFTER PASSING THROUGH A HDG OF APPROX 100 DEGS, DEP TOLD US TO TIGHTEN OUR TURN IF POSSIBLE. PASSING THROUGH APPROX 160 DEGS AND 5500 FT MSL, DEP SAID, 'CONTINUE R TURN TO 270 DEGS, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A L TURN, MAINTAIN 5000 FT.' IN DISCUSSING THE DEP WITH THE CREW CHIEF AND TAC, THEY FEEL CERTAIN THEY HEARD, 'R TURN TO 220 DEGS.' I DON'T RECALL HEARING A DIRECTION STATED AND CONTINUED MY TURN IN THE SHORTEST DIRECTION TO 220 DEGS. LESSONS LEARNED: TKOF IS A BUSY AND COMPLICATED PHASE OF FLT. WHEN ALL CREW MEMBERS ARE BUSY AS WELL AS LISTENING TO CTLRS WE OFTEN HEAR WHAT WE THINK WE WANT TO HEAR. WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK! IF DEP CTLRS DESIRE SID COMPLIANCE THEY SHOULD AVOID ISSUING A HDG UNTIL THE TURN IN THE PROPER DIRECTION IS INITIATED. PARTICULARLY IF THE TURN IS FOR GREATER THAN 180 DEGS. IF, IN FACT, THE CTLR DID NOT ISSUE A L TURN INSTRUCTION HE SHOULD HAVE.

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.