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A BE33 pilot attributed a thirty degree heading deviation to being distracted by GPS programming. Reporter stated that there is inadequate training available for the navigation system he was using.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 672715 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200509 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : atl.airport |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : atl.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Bonanza 33 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 400 |
| ASRS Report | 672715 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation other anomaly other |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Setting up for GPS runway 27 approach to pdk. Apollo 2001 requires head in cockpit. On heading 030 degrees per aic vector and deviated left to 360 degrees. ATC asked heading. I turned back to 030 degrees explaining that I was distracted by programming the GPS. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: pilot stated that the only training available for this system is in the manual. There is no clearance delivery or other online training available. Pilot had made his own checklists for certain tasks such as direct to fixes. Most tasks are fairly easy except entering a changed flight plan including changing an approach. In the case of changing an approach; the system requires the operator to be heads down. He called the manufacturer for help on system operation and while they were helpful; he felt more training material should be available. Reporter's final comment was he will not use this system to fly into an airport where the WX is actual IMC and the only approach is GPS. He will go to a VOR or ILS equipped field.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A BE33 PILOT ATTRIBUTED A THIRTY DEGREE HEADING DEVIATION TO BEING DISTRACTED BY GPS PROGRAMMING. REPORTER STATED THAT THERE IS INADEQUATE TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM HE WAS USING.
Narrative: SETTING UP FOR GPS RWY 27 APCH TO PDK. APOLLO 2001 REQUIRES HEAD IN COCKPIT. ON HDG 030 DEGS PER AIC VECTOR AND DEVIATED L TO 360 DEGS. ATC ASKED HDG. I TURNED BACK TO 030 DEGS EXPLAINING THAT I WAS DISTRACTED BY PROGRAMMING THE GPS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: PLT STATED THAT THE ONLY TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR THIS SYSTEM IS IN THE MANUAL. THERE IS NO CD OR OTHER ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE. PLT HAD MADE HIS OWN CHKLISTS FOR CERTAIN TASKS SUCH AS DIRECT TO FIXES. MOST TASKS ARE FAIRLY EASY EXCEPT ENTERING A CHANGED FLT PLAN INCLUDING CHANGING AN APCH. IN THE CASE OF CHANGING AN APCH; THE SYSTEM REQUIRES THE OPERATOR TO BE HEADS DOWN. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR HELP ON SYSTEM OP AND WHILE THEY WERE HELPFUL; HE FELT MORE TRAINING MATERIAL SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. RPTR'S FINAL COMMENT WAS HE WILL NOT USE THIS SYSTEM TO FLY INTO AN ARPT WHERE THE WX IS ACTUAL IMC AND THE ONLY APCH IS GPS. HE WILL GO TO A VOR OR ILS EQUIPPED FIELD.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.