DC10 departure ewr misunderstood controller instructions for vectors just after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	440335
Time
Date	199906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure sid : newark 6
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9600 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	440335
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to intended course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were heavy for the flight to amsterdam from ewr. Departing runway 22L with the ewr 6 SID, I briefed the cap -- an immediate left turn to 190 degrees with a right at 2.3 DME to 220 degrees, climb to 2500 ft (ATC restr). Flying the departure, ATC issued a left to 230 degrees as we crossed the 2.3 DME fix, climb to 6000 ft and a frequency change. The next controller, who was very busy, issued a 'tight turn to 040 degrees,' which I mistakenly assumed to be a left turn. Starting the turn, ATC commented 'need a nice tight turn...' which the captain responded affirmatively. Then ATC came back 'just wanted to confirm a right turn.' we complied with immediately. Looking back, I should have requested clarification on direction of turn. ATC never issues a 'tight turn...,' always a direction of turn -- right turn is what he must have said. In this situation, I knew there was parallel departure off of runway 22R, and at the time the 040 degree turn heading was issued, a left was the closest direction. Also, I was too eager to comply instantly in a very busy environment with rapidly issued clrncs. Next time, I will be slower to react and verify any ATC clearance that seems vague or nonstandard -- especially one as critical as direction of turn that close to the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC10 DEP EWR MISUNDERSTOOD CTLR INSTRUCTIONS FOR VECTORS JUST AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: WE WERE HVY FOR THE FLT TO AMSTERDAM FROM EWR. DEPARTING RWY 22L WITH THE EWR 6 SID, I BRIEFED THE CAP -- AN IMMEDIATE L TURN TO 190 DEGS WITH A R AT 2.3 DME TO 220 DEGS, CLB TO 2500 FT (ATC RESTR). FLYING THE DEP, ATC ISSUED A L TO 230 DEGS AS WE CROSSED THE 2.3 DME FIX, CLB TO 6000 FT AND A FREQ CHANGE. THE NEXT CTLR, WHO WAS VERY BUSY, ISSUED A 'TIGHT TURN TO 040 DEGS,' WHICH I MISTAKENLY ASSUMED TO BE A L TURN. STARTING THE TURN, ATC COMMENTED 'NEED A NICE TIGHT TURN...' WHICH THE CAPT RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVELY. THEN ATC CAME BACK 'JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM A R TURN.' WE COMPLIED WITH IMMEDIATELY. LOOKING BACK, I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED CLARIFICATION ON DIRECTION OF TURN. ATC NEVER ISSUES A 'TIGHT TURN...,' ALWAYS A DIRECTION OF TURN -- R TURN IS WHAT HE MUST HAVE SAID. IN THIS SIT, I KNEW THERE WAS PARALLEL DEP OFF OF RWY 22R, AND AT THE TIME THE 040 DEG TURN HDG WAS ISSUED, A L WAS THE CLOSEST DIRECTION. ALSO, I WAS TOO EAGER TO COMPLY INSTANTLY IN A VERY BUSY ENVIRONMENT WITH RAPIDLY ISSUED CLRNCS. NEXT TIME, I WILL BE SLOWER TO REACT AND VERIFY ANY ATC CLRNC THAT SEEMS VAGUE OR NONSTANDARD -- ESPECIALLY ONE AS CRITICAL AS DIRECTION OF TURN THAT CLOSE TO THE ARPT.

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.