MD88 on vectors for ILS runway 8L at atl experienced equipment problem, overshoots localizer and is issued go around by ATC.

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Attributes
ACN	637239
Time
Date	200411
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3600 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon tower : phf.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 8l other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : vacating altitude landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	637239
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : nav display other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On radar vectors to ILS runway 8L at atl. Assigned heading 120 degrees, cleared for the ILS runway 8L approach. First officer flying with #2 autoplt engaged. Aircraft captured the localizer, turned about 10 degrees to the left, then stopped turn, reverted to 'heading hold' mode on autoplt. Raw data on captain's navigation display showed us going right off course. Controller queried us about correcting the localizer course. First officer selected 'heading select' on autoplt to command a left turn toward course. Autoplt failed to engage the 'heading select' mode, and continued right off course in 'heading hold' mode. I directed the first officer to disconnect the autoplt and hand-fly the airplane back on course. At this time, the controller directed us to fly heading 360 degrees, climb to 4000 ft (we were then at 3600 ft) vectors for another approach, which was uneventful. This failure to lock onto the localizer was troubling, but the failure of the autoplt to respond correctly to 'heading select' was doubly troubling. Heads up monitoring of autoplt FMA and raw data were key to preventing a bad outcome.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 ON VECTORS FOR ILS RWY 8L AT ATL EXPERIENCED EQUIP PROB, OVERSHOOTS LOC AND IS ISSUED GAR BY ATC.

Narrative: ON RADAR VECTORS TO ILS RWY 8L AT ATL. ASSIGNED HDG 120 DEGS, CLRED FOR THE ILS RWY 8L APCH. FO FLYING WITH #2 AUTOPLT ENGAGED. ACFT CAPTURED THE LOC, TURNED ABOUT 10 DEGS TO THE L, THEN STOPPED TURN, REVERTED TO 'HDG HOLD' MODE ON AUTOPLT. RAW DATA ON CAPT'S NAV DISPLAY SHOWED US GOING R OFF COURSE. CTLR QUERIED US ABOUT CORRECTING THE LOC COURSE. FO SELECTED 'HDG SELECT' ON AUTOPLT TO COMMAND A L TURN TOWARD COURSE. AUTOPLT FAILED TO ENGAGE THE 'HDG SELECT' MODE, AND CONTINUED R OFF COURSE IN 'HDG HOLD' MODE. I DIRECTED THE FO TO DISCONNECT THE AUTOPLT AND HAND-FLY THE AIRPLANE BACK ON COURSE. AT THIS TIME, THE CTLR DIRECTED US TO FLY HDG 360 DEGS, CLB TO 4000 FT (WE WERE THEN AT 3600 FT) VECTORS FOR ANOTHER APCH, WHICH WAS UNEVENTFUL. THIS FAILURE TO LOCK ONTO THE LOC WAS TROUBLING, BUT THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOPLT TO RESPOND CORRECTLY TO 'HDG SELECT' WAS DOUBLY TROUBLING. HEADS UP MONITORING OF AUTOPLT FMA AND RAW DATA WERE KEY TO PREVENTING A BAD OUTCOME.

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.