Narrative:

During taxi I was told to expedite so I could takeoff before a heavy aircraft. I did my before takeoff checklist, setting the directional gyro. I was then cleared for takeoff at intersection a, runway 18L at clt. My instructions were to 'turn heading 115 degrees after takeoff.' shortly after takeoff, about 500 ft AGL on climb out, I was told to 'turn to heading 115 degrees and contact departure.' I started my left turn then scanned my heading indicator. I noticed it was considerably off. I then began to reset my heading indicator by leveling my wings. Approximately 5-10 seconds later, I noticed a dash 8 in my upper right corner of my windscreen. I then turned sharply to the left and using outside visual references, I turned to what I thought would be 115 degrees. I then notified ATC about my heading indicator malfunction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 TAKES EVASIVE ACTION DURING INITIAL CLB IN CLT AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DURING TAXI I WAS TOLD TO EXPEDITE SO I COULD TKOF BEFORE A HVY ACFT. I DID MY BEFORE TKOF CHKLIST, SETTING THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO. I WAS THEN CLRED FOR TKOF AT INTXN A, RWY 18L AT CLT. MY INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO 'TURN HDG 115 DEGS AFTER TKOF.' SHORTLY AFTER TKOF, ABOUT 500 FT AGL ON CLBOUT, I WAS TOLD TO 'TURN TO HDG 115 DEGS AND CONTACT DEP.' I STARTED MY L TURN THEN SCANNED MY HEADING INDICATOR. I NOTICED IT WAS CONSIDERABLY OFF. I THEN BEGAN TO RESET MY HEADING INDICATOR BY LEVELING MY WINGS. APPROX 5-10 SECONDS LATER, I NOTICED A DASH 8 IN MY UPPER R CORNER OF MY WINDSCREEN. I THEN TURNED SHARPLY TO THE L AND USING OUTSIDE VISUAL REFS, I TURNED TO WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE 115 DEGS. I THEN NOTIFIED ATC ABOUT MY HEADING INDICATOR MALFUNCTION.

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.