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A C421 pilot entered the runway for an intersection takeoff and turned the wrong way on the runway initially; in part because his compass was reading 180 degrees off because of air conditioning operation. He caught his error and turned around.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 812873 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200811 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : hou.airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : hou.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Golden Eagle 421 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 240 |
| ASRS Report | 812873 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was cleared for takeoff at intersection K on runway 12R at hou. By mistake; I turned left instead of right and started my takeoff roll. Realized my error; applied brakes; and at the same time the tower told me to stop and do a 180 degree turn and continue to takeoff. In retrospect; there were a number of factors that led up to this situation: 1) runway identify is not ideal at that location. 2) the air conditioning was on (which causes the magnetic compass to show 180 degrees from the direction you are pointing). 3) the slave button for the HSI was in the 'un-slave' position (manual). We had experienced problems with alignment of our heading -- that is the reason for it being in that position. 4) it had been a long day; so tiredness was also a factor! The answer/solutions to the above are very easy: 1) if in doubt as to runway alignment; let the tower confirm. 2) switch off the air conditioner. 3) be extra careful and more aware if tiredness is a factor; if possible!
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C421 PILOT ENTERED THE RUNWAY FOR AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF AND TURNED THE WRONG WAY ON THE RUNWAY INITIALLY; IN PART BECAUSE HIS COMPASS WAS READING 180 DEGREES OFF BECAUSE OF AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. HE CAUGHT HIS ERROR AND TURNED AROUND.
Narrative: I WAS CLRED FOR TKOF AT INTXN K ON RWY 12R AT HOU. BY MISTAKE; I TURNED L INSTEAD OF R AND STARTED MY TKOF ROLL. REALIZED MY ERROR; APPLIED BRAKES; AND AT THE SAME TIME THE TWR TOLD ME TO STOP AND DO A 180 DEG TURN AND CONTINUE TO TKOF. IN RETROSPECT; THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT LED UP TO THIS SITUATION: 1) RWY IDENT IS NOT IDEAL AT THAT LOCATION. 2) THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON (WHICH CAUSES THE MAGNETIC COMPASS TO SHOW 180 DEGS FROM THE DIRECTION YOU ARE POINTING). 3) THE SLAVE BUTTON FOR THE HSI WAS IN THE 'UN-SLAVE' POSITION (MANUAL). WE HAD EXPERIENCED PROBS WITH ALIGNMENT OF OUR HDG -- THAT IS THE REASON FOR IT BEING IN THAT POSITION. 4) IT HAD BEEN A LONG DAY; SO TIREDNESS WAS ALSO A FACTOR! THE ANSWER/SOLUTIONS TO THE ABOVE ARE VERY EASY: 1) IF IN DOUBT AS TO RWY ALIGNMENT; LET THE TWR CONFIRM. 2) SWITCH OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. 3) BE EXTRA CAREFUL AND MORE AWARE IF TIREDNESS IS A FACTOR; IF POSSIBLE!
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.