Narrative:

I was in IMC from binghamton, ny, to allaire, nj (blm), approaching robbinsville VOR (rbv) at approximately 175 KTS. Had asked for the GPS 14 approach with rbv transition into allaire, and was told to expect it. When about over rbv (less than 30 seconds) mcguire approach said I should 'hold' at rbv as charted. I did not have the chart in my lap (in my notebook on the floor) and asked for radial. (By this time I was already passing over rbv) mcguire's response was garbled and took two separate requests to get 249 degrees. I had already started my turn back toward rbv on a 249 degree heading and using my GPS to keep situational awareness. Mcguire approach was very busy and I was very busy. I slowed speed to 120 KTS and continued on the hold -- but was holding northeast on rbv 249 degree radial -- left turns. I know the terrain (flat) and wasn't concerned, until mcguire asked me to confirm I was holding southwest on the 249 degree radial. I told them I was just turning inbound on the hold. (I had already made 3 circuits on the hold.) before I had time to change the hold pattern, mcguire cleared me for the approach into blm. After reviewing the events I have made the following adjustments: I will always keep the en route chart open in my lap to the portion for the flight, eg, this would have shown the published hold. When in IMC nearing destinations where flow-control may be used, I will brief ahead possible holds...and keep the VOR tuned to appropriate frequency. I have a GPS which makes en route flight navigation very easy. However, I now keep the second VOR tuned to the frequency of the nearest/relevant VOR for fall-back or other needs, such as an unexpected hold. If ever again a hold is given I don't understand, I will ask for a clear statement of 1) radial/VOR/frequency, 2) position of hold, and 3) turn direction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20P PLT DID NOT ENTER THE HOLDING PATTERN IN THE CORRECT MANNER OR HOLD AT THE CLRED POINT IN WRI CLASS E.

Narrative: I WAS IN IMC FROM BINGHAMTON, NY, TO ALLAIRE, NJ (BLM), APCHING ROBBINSVILLE VOR (RBV) AT APPROX 175 KTS. HAD ASKED FOR THE GPS 14 APCH WITH RBV TRANSITION INTO ALLAIRE, AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT IT. WHEN ABOUT OVER RBV (LESS THAN 30 SECONDS) MCGUIRE APCH SAID I SHOULD 'HOLD' AT RBV AS CHARTED. I DID NOT HAVE THE CHART IN MY LAP (IN MY NOTEBOOK ON THE FLOOR) AND ASKED FOR RADIAL. (BY THIS TIME I WAS ALREADY PASSING OVER RBV) MCGUIRE'S RESPONSE WAS GARBLED AND TOOK TWO SEPARATE REQUESTS TO GET 249 DEGS. I HAD ALREADY STARTED MY TURN BACK TOWARD RBV ON A 249 DEG HDG AND USING MY GPS TO KEEP SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. MCGUIRE APCH WAS VERY BUSY AND I WAS VERY BUSY. I SLOWED SPD TO 120 KTS AND CONTINUED ON THE HOLD -- BUT WAS HOLDING NE ON RBV 249 DEG RADIAL -- L TURNS. I KNOW THE TERRAIN (FLAT) AND WASN'T CONCERNED, UNTIL MCGUIRE ASKED ME TO CONFIRM I WAS HOLDING SW ON THE 249 DEG RADIAL. I TOLD THEM I WAS JUST TURNING INBOUND ON THE HOLD. (I HAD ALREADY MADE 3 CIRCUITS ON THE HOLD.) BEFORE I HAD TIME TO CHANGE THE HOLD PATTERN, MCGUIRE CLRED ME FOR THE APCH INTO BLM. AFTER REVIEWING THE EVENTS I HAVE MADE THE FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENTS: I WILL ALWAYS KEEP THE ENRTE CHART OPEN IN MY LAP TO THE PORTION FOR THE FLT, EG, THIS WOULD HAVE SHOWN THE PUBLISHED HOLD. WHEN IN IMC NEARING DESTS WHERE FLOW-CTL MAY BE USED, I WILL BRIEF AHEAD POSSIBLE HOLDS...AND KEEP THE VOR TUNED TO APPROPRIATE FREQ. I HAVE A GPS WHICH MAKES ENRTE FLT NAV VERY EASY. HOWEVER, I NOW KEEP THE SECOND VOR TUNED TO THE FREQ OF THE NEAREST/RELEVANT VOR FOR FALL-BACK OR OTHER NEEDS, SUCH AS AN UNEXPECTED HOLD. IF EVER AGAIN A HOLD IS GIVEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND, I WILL ASK FOR A CLR STATEMENT OF 1) RADIAL/VOR/FREQ, 2) POS OF HOLD, AND 3) TURN DIRECTION.

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.