CRJ200 crew continued to use a malfunctioning FMS and had a track deviation in ZNY class east.

Attributes
ACN	596823
Time
Date	200309
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cfb.vortac
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	596823
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fms dir msg other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed syr, during climb out received an FMS 'dr' message. Tried to reset with no luck. Was given instruction from ZNY to fly direct cfb. We used the FMS. While xchking position with raw data VOR information, ny called and asked our heading to confirm direct cfb. He advised us that our heading was not even close and that we were about 15 mi west of the VOR instead of 15 mi north (which is what we thought). He gave us a heading to cfb while we switched off the FMS and flew to cfb using VOR instead of FMS. There was no separation problem with other aircraft in the area although the controller was busy. When the FMS occurred we should have switched off the FMS navigation immediately. We were mislead because of the perceived accuracy, plus we were VFR. I did not believe the error was that great or that great of an error could occur that fast. I believe that I learned a valuable lesson.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ200 CREW CONTINUED TO USE A MALFUNCTIONING FMS AND HAD A TRACK DEV IN ZNY CLASS E.

Narrative: DEPARTED SYR, DURING CLBOUT RECEIVED AN FMS 'DR' MESSAGE. TRIED TO RESET WITH NO LUCK. WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTION FROM ZNY TO FLY DIRECT CFB. WE USED THE FMS. WHILE XCHKING POS WITH RAW DATA VOR INFO, NY CALLED AND ASKED OUR HEADING TO CONFIRM DIRECT CFB. HE ADVISED US THAT OUR HEADING WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE AND THAT WE WERE ABOUT 15 MI W OF THE VOR INSTEAD OF 15 MI N (WHICH IS WHAT WE THOUGHT). HE GAVE US A HEADING TO CFB WHILE WE SWITCHED OFF THE FMS AND FLEW TO CFB USING VOR INSTEAD OF FMS. THERE WAS NO SEPARATION PROB WITH OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA ALTHOUGH THE CTLR WAS BUSY. WHEN THE FMS OCCURRED WE SHOULD HAVE SWITCHED OFF THE FMS NAV IMMEDIATELY. WE WERE MISLEAD BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED ACCURACY, PLUS WE WERE VFR. I DID NOT BELIEVE THE ERROR WAS THAT GREAT OR THAT GREAT OF AN ERROR COULD OCCUR THAT FAST. I BELIEVE THAT I LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON.

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.