Narrative:

On departure from bdl 5 departure runway 6, we were given a few vectors and then instructed to proceed direct to center. The first officer, who was the PF, turned toward the VOR and appeared to be tracking directly to it. I then pulled out my chart and tuned our next fix, cam. I then noticed the first officer was 1 DOT left of course and turning to track directly to center. At this time the compass deviation light illuminated, indicating a difference between our 2 headings. After 10 seconds of course correction and verification with our standard compass, we realized we were about to pass slightly west of center. At the time I was considering a sharp evasive maneuver to turn and cross directly over the VOR (center). I am sure this would have caused an overshoot on the other side of the VOR. Given our altitude and course direction, I didn't think we would violate any airspace by crossing slightly west of center. ATC asked if we were proceeding directly to cam, we advised, affirmative since our course passing west of center was now direct cam. He then advised us that we were crossing center 3 mi left of course. I don't know whether we violated any airspace or not. In retrospect I should have advised ATC immediately of our compass problem and asked if he had any problems with our course.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMPASS PROB CAUSES COURSE DEV.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM BDL 5 DEP RWY 6, WE WERE GIVEN A FEW VECTORS AND THEN INSTRUCTED TO PROCEED DIRECT TO CTR. THE FO, WHO WAS THE PF, TURNED TOWARD THE VOR AND APPEARED TO BE TRACKING DIRECTLY TO IT. I THEN PULLED OUT MY CHART AND TUNED OUR NEXT FIX, CAM. I THEN NOTICED THE FO WAS 1 DOT L OF COURSE AND TURNING TO TRACK DIRECTLY TO CTR. AT THIS TIME THE COMPASS DEV LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A DIFFERENCE BTWN OUR 2 HEADINGS. AFTER 10 SECONDS OF COURSE CORRECTION AND VERIFICATION WITH OUR STANDARD COMPASS, WE REALIZED WE WERE ABOUT TO PASS SLIGHTLY W OF CTR. AT THE TIME I WAS CONSIDERING A SHARP EVASIVE MANEUVER TO TURN AND CROSS DIRECTLY OVER THE VOR (CTR). I AM SURE THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN OVERSHOOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VOR. GIVEN OUR ALT AND COURSE DIRECTION, I DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD VIOLATE ANY AIRSPACE BY XING SLIGHTLY W OF CTR. ATC ASKED IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECTLY TO CAM, WE ADVISED, AFFIRMATIVE SINCE OUR COURSE PASSING W OF CTR WAS NOW DIRECT CAM. HE THEN ADVISED US THAT WE WERE XING CTR 3 MI L OF COURSE. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE VIOLATED ANY AIRSPACE OR NOT. IN RETROSPECT I SHOULD HAVE ADVISED ATC IMMEDIATELY OF OUR COMPASS PROB AND ASKED IF HE HAD ANY PROBS WITH OUR COURSE.

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.