Narrative:

While descending on the sadde 6 arrival, I passed over the fim VOR descending to 12000 ft and slowing to 280 KTS. Over the VOR, I changed to the outbound course 148 degrees, saw the CDI center, and concentrated on the altitude/airspeed restr of 12000/280 KTS. I neglected to check the FMA for a VOR capture annunciation and the airplane continued on a 138 degree heading rather than follow the VOR course to 148 degree radial. Socal approach called and asked what our heading was, I responded 138 degrees correcting to 148 degrees. We were directed to fly 160 degrees and slow to 180 KTS, subsequently vectored direct to smo. I became preoccupied with the altitude and airspeed crossing restr and failed to monitor the VOR course. I either failed to arm the VOR capture function of the autoplt or to ensure this happened by xchking the FMA. Due to a tailwind, I was intent on the airspeed and altitude restr at 'symon' but obviously did not pay attention to the 'capture' of the VOR course. To prevent/correct the occurrence of this digression again, the FMA needs to be checked for confirmation of the 'VOR capture' regardless of the CDI being centered or not.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING ON THE SADDE 6 ARR, I PASSED OVER THE FIM VOR DSNDING TO 12000 FT AND SLOWING TO 280 KTS. OVER THE VOR, I CHANGED TO THE OUTBOUND COURSE 148 DEGS, SAW THE CDI CTR, AND CONCENTRATED ON THE ALT/AIRSPD RESTR OF 12000/280 KTS. I NEGLECTED TO CHK THE FMA FOR A VOR CAPTURE ANNUNCIATION AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ON A 138 DEG HDG RATHER THAN FOLLOW THE VOR COURSE TO 148 DEG RADIAL. SOCAL APCH CALLED AND ASKED WHAT OUR HDG WAS, I RESPONDED 138 DEGS CORRECTING TO 148 DEGS. WE WERE DIRECTED TO FLY 160 DEGS AND SLOW TO 180 KTS, SUBSEQUENTLY VECTORED DIRECT TO SMO. I BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH THE ALT AND AIRSPD XING RESTR AND FAILED TO MONITOR THE VOR COURSE. I EITHER FAILED TO ARM THE VOR CAPTURE FUNCTION OF THE AUTOPLT OR TO ENSURE THIS HAPPENED BY XCHKING THE FMA. DUE TO A TAILWIND, I WAS INTENT ON THE AIRSPD AND ALT RESTR AT 'SYMON' BUT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT PAY ATTN TO THE 'CAPTURE' OF THE VOR COURSE. TO PREVENT/CORRECT THE OCCURRENCE OF THIS DIGRESSION AGAIN, THE FMA NEEDS TO BE CHKED FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE 'VOR CAPTURE' REGARDLESS OF THE CDI BEING CTRED OR NOT.

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.