An MD80 at cruise altitude experienced erratic #1 VOR indications that were traced to an older model...

Attributes
ACN	496332
Time
Date	200012
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : vor receiver other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

Navigational electromagnetic interference was experienced on flight from bna to lax on a MD80. The capts number one VOR navigation was erratic through the flight as compared to the number 2 VOR navigation. CDI deflection was 2 and 1/2 dots on the HSI indicator and waved from one side of course to the other. Flight attendant's were made aware of the situation and were specifically sent to see if any one using a unusual electronic device could be found. A passenger seated over the wing area, left side, using a gameboy model dmg 01 dc 6V.07W with a turn and burn chip was causing the problem on the navigation. Onced switched off, the navigation reception returned to normal. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: callback revealed that this is the second instance of VOR indication problems experienced by the reporter in the MD80 involving the same model gameboy electronic device located, and operated, in the area of the aircraft from just forward of the wing to just aft of the wing. He said the model involved is probably seven to eight yrs old and he has been told that it does not use the same shielding that newer models by the same manufacturer do.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 AT CRUISE ALT EXPERIENCED ERRATIC #1 VOR INDICATIONS THAT WERE TRACED TO AN OLDER MODEL GAMEBOY IN USE IN THE CABIN. WHEN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WAS TURNED OFF THE VOR INDICATIONS RETURNED TO NORMAL.

Narrative: NAVIGATIONAL ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE WAS EXPERIENCED ON FLT FROM BNA TO LAX ON A MD80. THE CAPTS NUMBER ONE VOR NAV WAS ERRATIC THROUGH THE FLT AS COMPARED TO THE NUMBER 2 VOR NAV. CDI DEFLECTION WAS 2 AND 1/2 DOTS ON THE HSI INDICATOR AND WAVED FROM ONE SIDE OF COURSE TO THE OTHER. FA'S WERE MADE AWARE OF THE SIT AND WERE SPECIFICALLY SENT TO SEE IF ANY ONE USING A UNUSUAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE COULD BE FOUND. A PAX SEATED OVER THE WING AREA, L SIDE, USING A GAMEBOY MODEL DMG 01 DC 6V.07W WITH A TURN AND BURN CHIP WAS CAUSING THE PROB ON THE NAV. ONCED SWITCHED OFF, THE NAV RECEPTION RETURNED TO NORMAL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CALLBACK REVEALED THAT THIS IS THE SECOND INSTANCE OF VOR INDICATION PROBS EXPERIENCED BY THE RPTR IN THE MD80 INVOLVING THE SAME MODEL GAMEBOY ELECTRONIC DEVICE LOCATED, AND OPERATED, IN THE AREA OF THE ACFT FROM JUST FORWARD OF THE WING TO JUST AFT OF THE WING. HE SAID THE MODEL INVOLVED IS PROBABLY SEVEN TO EIGHT YRS OLD AND HE HAS BEEN TOLD THAT IT DOES NOT USE THE SAME SHIELDING THAT NEWER MODELS BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER DO.

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.

An MD80 at cruise altitude experienced erratic #1 VOR indications that were traced to an older model gameboy in use in the cabin. When electronic device was turned off the VOR indications returned to normal.