An A320 crew, on arrival to jfk, deviated from published course.

Attributes
ACN	532642
Time
Date	200112
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : lolly
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	532642
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : overrode automation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When using the autoplt in conjunction with the FMGC and navigation modes in the A320, there are some scenarios that may be difficult for the system to negotiate. One such scenario is the kingston 6 arrival to jfk airport. We often fly this arrival from yodaa intersection. The autoplt is incapable of passing directly over these fixes and remaining within 4 NM of course/station/fix. This is recognized by honeywell, airbus, and our company given the programmed angle of bank/rate of turn in the navigation mode, the arrival cannot be negotiated and remain within boundaries. This problem is particular to this arrival due to changes in course in excess of 60 degrees. Because of this problem, I use heading mode to negotiate these turns. On this occasion, we were asked to go as fast as possible and did so. As we neared lolly intersection (we had been clear direct to earlier), reduced the range on my navigation display to be more accurate in my turn from/over lolly intersection. In doing so, I obscured the next intersection 'doore' from my display. I, therefore, did not turn far enough to the southwest and ended up east of course. I was essentially heading toward lendy intersection instead of doore, lendy being the only intersection visible on my reduced range navigation display as I rounded the corner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CREW, ON ARR TO JFK, DEVIATED FROM PUBLISHED COURSE.

Narrative: WHEN USING THE AUTOPLT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FMGC AND NAV MODES IN THE A320, THERE ARE SOME SCENARIOS THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THE SYS TO NEGOTIATE. ONE SUCH SCENARIO IS THE KINGSTON 6 ARR TO JFK ARPT. WE OFTEN FLY THIS ARR FROM YODAA INTXN. THE AUTOPLT IS INCAPABLE OF PASSING DIRECTLY OVER THESE FIXES AND REMAINING WITHIN 4 NM OF COURSE/STATION/FIX. THIS IS RECOGNIZED BY HONEYWELL, AIRBUS, AND OUR COMPANY GIVEN THE PROGRAMMED ANGLE OF BANK/RATE OF TURN IN THE NAV MODE, THE ARR CANNOT BE NEGOTIATED AND REMAIN WITHIN BOUNDARIES. THIS PROB IS PARTICULAR TO THIS ARR DUE TO CHANGES IN COURSE IN EXCESS OF 60 DEGS. BECAUSE OF THIS PROB, I USE HDG MODE TO NEGOTIATE THESE TURNS. ON THIS OCCASION, WE WERE ASKED TO GO AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND DID SO. AS WE NEARED LOLLY INTXN (WE HAD BEEN CLR DIRECT TO EARLIER), REDUCED THE RANGE ON MY NAV DISPLAY TO BE MORE ACCURATE IN MY TURN FROM/OVER LOLLY INTXN. IN DOING SO, I OBSCURED THE NEXT INTXN 'DOORE' FROM MY DISPLAY. I, THEREFORE, DID NOT TURN FAR ENOUGH TO THE SW AND ENDED UP E OF COURSE. I WAS ESSENTIALLY HDG TOWARD LENDY INTXN INSTEAD OF DOORE, LENDY BEING THE ONLY INTXN VISIBLE ON MY REDUCED RANGE NAV DISPLAY AS I ROUNDED THE CORNER.

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.