CL65 crew had a track deviation in ZLA class a after the FMC had dropped several waypoints.

Attributes
ACN	605879
Time
Date	200401
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pmd.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc tower : oak.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j65.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	605879
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fms software program other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We entered our filed route into the FMS as ehf J65, lando, then as filed. After lando intersection, the FMS software directed us to blh and dumped pmd VORTAC and decas intersection. Before we could catch the mistake, we had flown 5 NM off J65 and had to be redirected back towards pmd by ZLA. I have researched this problem and have found it to be a software problem in the FMS that has been going on for months. I have since contacted our chief pilot and maintenance about the problem. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: ZLA advised the reporter this has happened for the past 4 months. The pilot had a conference call with his chief pilot and the vice president of flight operations. He advised them of the problem. At the insistence of the vice president of operations, a bulletin advising of the problem was issued, and is attached to the flight plan. The reporter advised the FMC installed in the aircraft is manufactured by collins. They issue a monthly FMC programming update.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 CREW HAD A TRACK DEV IN ZLA CLASS A AFTER THE FMC HAD DROPPED SEVERAL WAYPOINTS.

Narrative: WE ENTERED OUR FILED RTE INTO THE FMS AS EHF J65, LANDO, THEN AS FILED. AFTER LANDO INTXN, THE FMS SOFTWARE DIRECTED US TO BLH AND DUMPED PMD VORTAC AND DECAS INTXN. BEFORE WE COULD CATCH THE MISTAKE, WE HAD FLOWN 5 NM OFF J65 AND HAD TO BE REDIRECTED BACK TOWARDS PMD BY ZLA. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROB AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE A SOFTWARE PROB IN THE FMS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED OUR CHIEF PLT AND MAINT ABOUT THE PROB. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ZLA ADVISED THE RPTR THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS. THE PLT HAD A CONFERENCE CALL WITH HIS CHIEF PLT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF FLT OPS. HE ADVISED THEM OF THE PROB. AT THE INSISTENCE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPS, A BULLETIN ADVISING OF THE PROB WAS ISSUED, AND IS ATTACHED TO THE FLT PLAN. THE RPTR ADVISED THE FMC INSTALLED IN THE ACFT IS MANUFACTURED BY COLLINS. THEY ISSUE A MONTHLY FMC PROGRAMMING UPDATE.

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.