Flight crew has problems maintaining heading with a malfunctioning compass.

Attributes
ACN	302315
Time
Date	199504
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ojc
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mci
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 850 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	302315
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on an NDB runway 17 approach into ojc and we were receiving radar vectors for interception. We were simulating a partial-panel NDB approach when we received a call from ojc tower to contact departure at kansas city on 118.90. We were informed we were off course and were given instructions for a new heading. We complied. We reached a new heading when the compass came loose from the windshield which threw off our heading. By the time I had the compass restabilized on the windshield, departure noticed our heading was off. We confirmed and instructed him as to our navigational problems, and we discontinued the NDB approach. I had reached down to find a screw that came loose and the student was trying to help me locate the screw. Departure control noted we were now off course by 180 degrees. We corrected to our assigned heading as best as possible. Earlier notification by radar of the deviation would have been helpful in case a serious situation arose.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC HAS PROBS MAINTAINING HDG WITH A MALFUNCTIONING COMPASS.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN NDB RWY 17 APCH INTO OJC AND WE WERE RECEIVING RADAR VECTORS FOR INTERCEPTION. WE WERE SIMULATING A PARTIAL-PANEL NDB APCH WHEN WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM OJC TWR TO CONTACT DEP AT KANSAS CITY ON 118.90. WE WERE INFORMED WE WERE OFF COURSE AND WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR A NEW HDG. WE COMPLIED. WE REACHED A NEW HDG WHEN THE COMPASS CAME LOOSE FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHICH THREW OFF OUR HDG. BY THE TIME I HAD THE COMPASS RESTABILIZED ON THE WINDSHIELD, DEP NOTICED OUR HDG WAS OFF. WE CONFIRMED AND INSTRUCTED HIM AS TO OUR NAVIGATIONAL PROBS, AND WE DISCONTINUED THE NDB APCH. I HAD REACHED DOWN TO FIND A SCREW THAT CAME LOOSE AND THE STUDENT WAS TRYING TO HELP ME LOCATE THE SCREW. DEP CTL NOTED WE WERE NOW OFF COURSE BY 180 DEGS. WE CORRECTED TO OUR ASSIGNED HDG AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. EARLIER NOTIFICATION BY RADAR OF THE DEV WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN CASE A SERIOUS SIT AROSE.

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.