DC10-30 navigation error over canadian airspace over northern pq.

Attributes
ACN	443223
Time
Date	199907
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : almes
State Reference	PQ
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czul.artcc tower : dtw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 30F
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	443223
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : 930 other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In sum: DC10-30 on international flight over northern quebec discovers aircraft to be guided on heading select rather than INS control mode. After reprogramming the INS for en route changes, the autoplt apparently reverted to this mode of operation. The normally aware and vigilant crew missed this irregularity until a rather significant deviation from the intended course occurred. Common difficulties in the communication with ARTCC agencies prolong and delay the process of correcting past errors and intercepting the desired on course track. Disorientation and confusion are players as the crew get clrncs and procedures under control when communication is reestablished.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC10-30 NAV ERROR OVER CANADIAN AIRSPACE OVER NORTHERN PQ.

Narrative: IN SUM: DC10-30 ON INTL FLT OVER NORTHERN QUEBEC DISCOVERS ACFT TO BE GUIDED ON HEADING SELECT RATHER THAN INS CTL MODE. AFTER REPROGRAMMING THE INS FOR ENRTE CHANGES, THE AUTOPLT APPARENTLY REVERTED TO THIS MODE OF OP. THE NORMALLY AWARE AND VIGILANT CREW MISSED THIS IRREGULARITY UNTIL A RATHER SIGNIFICANT DEV FROM THE INTENDED COURSE OCCURRED. COMMON DIFFICULTIES IN THE COM WITH ARTCC AGENCIES PROLONG AND DELAY THE PROCESS OF CORRECTING PAST ERRORS AND INTERCEPTING THE DESIRED ON COURSE TRACK. DISORIENTATION AND CONFUSION ARE PLAYERS AS THE CREW GET CLRNCS AND PROCS UNDER CTL WHEN COM IS REESTABLISHED.

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.