NAVAID problem reported to ATC after controller notes S80 off course on airway AR14.

Attributes
ACN	398780
Time
Date	199803
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : diw
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other ndb Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : atlantic enroute airway : ar14
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	398780
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

ZDC, dixon NDB. When transitioning to NDB navigation at dixon NDB, we attempted to make course corrections to track AR14 when advised by ATC that we were off course. The ADF gave valid identify signals but the needle pointed at whatever direction the nose of the aircraft was pointed. Thus, upon initial passing over the station, the error was not quickly recognizable. We requested radar vectors for the remainder of flight on AR14 and AR1.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NAVAID PROB RPTED TO ATC AFTER CTLR NOTES S80 OFF COURSE ON AIRWAY AR14.

Narrative: ZDC, DIXON NDB. WHEN TRANSITIONING TO NDB NAV AT DIXON NDB, WE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE COURSE CORRECTIONS TO TRACK AR14 WHEN ADVISED BY ATC THAT WE WERE OFF COURSE. THE ADF GAVE VALID IDENT SIGNALS BUT THE NEEDLE POINTED AT WHATEVER DIRECTION THE NOSE OF THE ACFT WAS POINTED. THUS, UPON INITIAL PASSING OVER THE STATION, THE ERROR WAS NOT QUICKLY RECOGNIZABLE. WE REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS FOR THE REMAINDER OF FLT ON AR14 AND AR1.

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.