<< >> NASA ASRS Report 379870, September 1997

An air carrier flight crew in an medium large transport got off course when they followed an FMC course that was improperly depicted on their screen. The captain attempted to reprogram the FMC instead of using the available VOR information.

Attributes
ACN	379870
Time
Date	199709
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 775 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur tower : dbq
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	379870
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	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:

Shortly after takeoff from bur, we were told to intercept a radial that was on the SID (218 degree radial pmd). I, as the PF, saw on the SID that the radial was shown on our route, so I turned toward the line shown on the EFIS screen. It turns out that the FMC for some reason loaded the SID incorrectly, even though it was entered correctly so the line shown was the wrong radial. During this time, the captain was trying to fix the box instead of tuning the VOR. In any case, the controller noted our heading was 40 degrees from our intercept heading given to us by him. We turned approximately 5- 8 mi before the assigned radial. He told us to turn back and we did. To prevent this from happening again, I will verify the route on the legs page in addition to the route page in the FMC. Also, I think typing in the box below 10000 ft is never a good idea.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC IN AN MLG GOT OFF COURSE WHEN THEY FOLLOWED AN FMC COURSE THAT WAS IMPROPERLY DEPICTED ON THEIR SCREEN. THE CAPT ATTEMPTED TO REPROGRAM THE FMC INSTEAD OF USING THE AVAILABLE VOR INFO.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM BUR, WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT A RADIAL THAT WAS ON THE SID (218 DEG RADIAL PMD). I, AS THE PF, SAW ON THE SID THAT THE RADIAL WAS SHOWN ON OUR RTE, SO I TURNED TOWARD THE LINE SHOWN ON THE EFIS SCREEN. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FMC FOR SOME REASON LOADED THE SID INCORRECTLY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ENTERED CORRECTLY SO THE LINE SHOWN WAS THE WRONG RADIAL. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAPT WAS TRYING TO FIX THE BOX INSTEAD OF TUNING THE VOR. IN ANY CASE, THE CTLR NOTED OUR HDG WAS 40 DEGS FROM OUR INTERCEPT HDG GIVEN TO US BY HIM. WE TURNED APPROX 5- 8 MI BEFORE THE ASSIGNED RADIAL. HE TOLD US TO TURN BACK AND WE DID. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, I WILL VERIFY THE RTE ON THE LEGS PAGE IN ADDITION TO THE RTE PAGE IN THE FMC. ALSO, I THINK TYPING IN THE BOX BELOW 10000 FT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA.

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.