Track deviation during ewr 6 departure from ewr, nj.

Attributes
ACN	489200
Time
Date	200010
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : 4l Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure sid : ewr.6
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 6200 flight time type : 1190
ASRS Report	489200
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing runway 4L at ewr. We were set up for the ewr six departure. This SID requires an immediate turn followed by a turn at 4 DME from the runway 4L localizer, for noise and traffic (teb). Reaching 1000 ft AGL, while configuring the aircraft for noise abatement climb, the departure controller gave us: a turn, 2 mi earlier than called for on the departure, a new altitude assignment, and a frequency change. These changes created a very high workload for us. While turning, reconfiguring, communicating, and navigating, the captain read the wrong DME distance. This caused him to set the wrong heading and course in the flight director (non-FMS). The aircraft was operated east of the correct course. We recognized the mistake at about the time the controller called to correct our course. The departure controllers should not reclr aircraft at low altitude, during 'clean-up' or other high workload times. This should also apply during approachs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV DURING EWR 6 DEP FROM EWR, NJ.

Narrative: DEPARTING RWY 4L AT EWR. WE WERE SET UP FOR THE EWR SIX DEP. THIS SID REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE TURN FOLLOWED BY A TURN AT 4 DME FROM THE RWY 4L LOC, FOR NOISE AND TFC (TEB). REACHING 1000 FT AGL, WHILE CONFIGURING THE ACFT FOR NOISE ABATEMENT CLB, THE DEP CTLR GAVE US: A TURN, 2 MI EARLIER THAN CALLED FOR ON THE DEP, A NEW ALT ASSIGNMENT, AND A FREQ CHANGE. THESE CHANGES CREATED A VERY HIGH WORKLOAD FOR US. WHILE TURNING, RECONFIGURING, COMMUNICATING, AND NAVING, THE CAPT READ THE WRONG DME DISTANCE. THIS CAUSED HIM TO SET THE WRONG HEADING AND COURSE IN THE FLT DIRECTOR (NON-FMS). THE ACFT WAS OPERATED E OF THE CORRECT COURSE. WE RECOGNIZED THE MISTAKE AT ABOUT THE TIME THE CTLR CALLED TO CORRECT OUR COURSE. THE DEP CTLRS SHOULD NOT RECLR ACFT AT LOW ALT, DURING 'CLEAN-UP' OR OTHER HIGH WORKLOAD TIMES. THIS SHOULD ALSO APPLY DURING APCHS.

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.