Small aircraft pilot departed teb and was cleared into N90 class B airspace. After contact with the second N90 controller, he was instructed to execute a left 360 degree, instead of a heading of 3-6-0 in N90 class B airspace.

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Attributes
ACN	622508
Time
Date	200406
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2800 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure : vfr enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 42 flight time total : 1835 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	622508
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

I departed teb to the northeast maintaining at or below 1000 ft as instructed. As I approached the hudson river, I was handed off to ny approach who cleared me into the class B airspace with, 'climb and maintain 3500 ft.' as I climbed through 2800 ft, I was handed off to another sector. After I checked in, the controller instructed me, 'stop climb, left three sixty, traffic 12 O'clock heading (forgotten) at 3500 ft.' I interpreted this to mean 'make a full 360 degree turn to the left' and I did so. As I turned through heading 300 degrees or so, the controller asked my on-course heading, to which I responded, '060' (my desired course), whereupon, he said 'maintain northbound. I'll have you on-course shortly.' in retrospect, the controller might have meant, 'turn left to heading three six zero.' I'm still not sure. But I thought that the ambiguity between 'left 3-60' and 'left 3-6-0' was interesting. I always assume '3 sixty' is a turn amount, whereas '3 six zero' is a heading. I wonder if controllers have the same understanding and usage.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DEPARTED TEB AND WAS CLRED INTO N90 CLASS B AIRSPACE. AFTER CONTACT WITH THE SECOND N90 CTLR, HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO EXECUTE A L 360 DEG, INSTEAD OF A HDG OF 3-6-0 IN N90 CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I DEPARTED TEB TO THE NE MAINTAINING AT OR BELOW 1000 FT AS INSTRUCTED. AS I APCHED THE HUDSON RIVER, I WAS HANDED OFF TO NY APCH WHO CLRED ME INTO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WITH, 'CLB AND MAINTAIN 3500 FT.' AS I CLBED THROUGH 2800 FT, I WAS HANDED OFF TO ANOTHER SECTOR. AFTER I CHKED IN, THE CTLR INSTRUCTED ME, 'STOP CLB, L THREE SIXTY, TFC 12 O'CLOCK HDG (FORGOTTEN) AT 3500 FT.' I INTERPRETED THIS TO MEAN 'MAKE A FULL 360 DEG TURN TO THE L' AND I DID SO. AS I TURNED THROUGH HDG 300 DEGS OR SO, THE CTLR ASKED MY ON-COURSE HDG, TO WHICH I RESPONDED, '060' (MY DESIRED COURSE), WHEREUPON, HE SAID 'MAINTAIN NBND. I'LL HAVE YOU ON-COURSE SHORTLY.' IN RETROSPECT, THE CTLR MIGHT HAVE MEANT, 'TURN L TO HDG THREE SIX ZERO.' I'M STILL NOT SURE. BUT I THOUGHT THAT THE AMBIGUITY BETWEEN 'L 3-60' AND 'L 3-6-0' WAS INTERESTING. I ALWAYS ASSUME '3 SIXTY' IS A TURN AMOUNT, WHEREAS '3 SIX ZERO' IS A HDG. I WONDER IF CTLRS HAVE THE SAME UNDERSTANDING AND USAGE.

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.